When most people think of air pollution in the Auburn Hills or Rochester Hills area, they think of smog, chemicals from industrial areas and other problems with the outdoor air. Indoor air pollution, however, is often worse than any outdoor pollution and it can cause health problems for your entire family. With the following guide, you will learn how to manage the three common types of indoor air pollution:
Common Types of Indoor Air Pollution
- Airborne Particles: These include household dirt and dust, pollen and pet dander that are small and light enough to become suspended in the air and travel throughout the house.
- Microorganisms and Biological Contaminants: These include common bacteria and viruses found in the home, as well as mold spores, other fungi and dust mites.
- Odors and Chemical Vapors: These are volatile organic compounds, VOCs, that are released from paints, furniture and lumber, as well as cooking or pet odors.
Removal of Indoor Air Pollution:
- Mechanical Air Filters: These are typically installed in the HVAC system or in portable air cleaners. Flat panel filters have a thin membrane and are typically used for protecting HVAC equipment, not for improving air quality. High-efficiency pleated filters have a larger surface area, with much smaller pores for better particulate removal, and they are designed to improve air quality. Electrostatic air filters add an electric charge to a standard filter, allowing them to physically attract pollutants and to remove greater percentages from the air than a filter alone. Finally, the most efficient filters available are known as HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters, and they are specially-designed to remove over 99.97 percent of indoor air pollutants.
- UV Germicidal Irradiation Cleaners: These systems use ultra-violet light to kill bacteria, viruses and other biological contaminants.
- Carbon Filters: These filters are used to neutralize odors and other gaseous compounds from the air that cannot be removed by standard particle filters.
Many systems combine multiple cleaning methods to maximize the removal of indoor air pollution. To learn more about improving your indoor air quality, contact our professionals at Aladdin Heating & Cooling, serving the Detroit area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air pollution and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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