Many people understand how dangerous outdoor air pollution like car emissions can be, but they don’t realize that the air inside the typical house might be more polluted—reliant on actual circumstances, it can be up to five times more. Things have become so dangerous, the EPA has indoor air pollution classified as a top-five environmental danger. Mold, pollen, pet dander, radon, and even formaldehyde are commonly found inside. Since Americans spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, superior indoor air quality is crucial for good health, no matter if it’s in our homes or our workplaces. To help manage this pollution and improve our indoor air quality, we can take different measures. But first, we are required to absorb some lingo often used to discuss indoor air quality. 

HEPA

HEPA is a term a lot of people have heard or seen, but did you know it stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” or “high-efficiency particulate arrestance”? HEPA filtration systems are engineered—and certified—to confine at least 99.97% of .3-micron particles (less than the diameter of a human hair) from the air that filters through the system. This significantly increases your home’s indoor air quality when dust, pollen, mites, and other contaminants are destroyed.

MERV

Minimum efficiency reporting value or MERV describes the effectiveness of an air filter. With metrics ranging from 1–16, you should look for a max rating that specifies the filter will destroy more contaminants and allergens from your air without limiting the airflow of your home comfort system. Ask us which MERV-rated filter will work best for your home.

At Econo Air, we can help you understand the importance of indoor air quality and help you work on breathing the best air possible. After all, the typical adult takes in about 11,000 liters of air each day. Give us a call at 714-710-1070 if you have any questions or concerns about your home comfort system or schedule an appointment with us online.