Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for Your Health

Breathe Easy: Your Guide to Better Indoor Air Quality

During the Industrial Revolution, we polluted the air we needed to breathe to enrich our lives and make us comfortable. During the late 1800s, burning coal for heat, energy, and industry led to a toxic soup of polluted air hovering over major cities. A similar problem arose in the early 1900s with the introduction of internal combustion engine vehicles.

A large city quickly accumulated millions of cars, trucks, and trains, and there were no emission control standards. The pollution reminded folks of fog, so smoke/fog was shortened to “smog.” Outdoor air was affected, as well as the indoor air quality of our homes and businesses.

After creating the mess, we worked on complicated methods to clean the air with a series of Clean Air Acts. Environmental scientists worked hard to reduce the concentration of particulate matter in the air, and politicians worked on laws to enforce air quality standards to keep us from poisoning ourselves. 

These standards control the contamination from:

  • The burning of fossil fuels for energy
  • Industrial pollutants that are released
  • Emission standards for planes, trains, and automobiles

Today, large cities in the U.S. enjoy incredibly clean air in comparison to other industrialized countries. Of course, there is always room for improvement, so the battle for clean air continues. There are many sources of air pollution that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cannot control or regulate. They include:

  • Pollen, mold spores, and other organic sources
  • Smoke from wildfires that often travels thousands of miles
  • Global pollution from other countries with lower air quality standards

Another very important development is in the area of health care. Medical professionals gained a clearer understanding of the long-term health concerns surrounding poor air quality. Yes, poor air quality contributes to breathing problems and cancer rates, but it also contributes to infant mortality and low birth weight.

Although we enjoy relatively clean air, we should also have a great concern over indoor air quality in our homes and gathering places, such as businesses and schools. Everyone should be much more conscious of indoor air quality, and outdoor air quality.

Why does indoor air quality matter?

  1. Although we love the great outdoors and fresh air, we also love simple comforts, such as avoiding extreme heat, extreme cold, and high humidity. The average American spends 90% of their life indoors, at home, school, work, or in the conditioned space of vehicles.
  2. Indoor air is actually outdoor air that has migrated to indoor spaces. That means that whatever pollutants are abundant in outdoor environments are also in indoor spaces. However, since these spaces are enclosed, ventilation is reduced, and the concentration of pollutants grows larger. Add to this the pollutants added by everyday life, including cleaning, cooking, and simply breathing, and the concentration of air contaminants is 5 to 8 times more concentrated indoors.
  3. Since poor indoor air quality can lead to or trigger health problems, indoor air quality becomes extremely important to all involved.

Since indoor air quality is so important, home and business owners should be very informed about their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. These building systems:

  • Move air around, maintaining fresh air. Blower motors can move the entire volume of indoor air every few minutes of a heating or cooling cycle.
  • All of that air moves through a very efficient air filter that traps and removes the vast majority of airborne contaminants, including many organic pollutants. Changing the air filter at least every three months removes these contaminants from a home or business forever.
  • Regular AC maintenance keeps an air conditioner/furnace running efficiently and extends the useful years to the system. Many of the AC maintenance tasks include cleaning pollutants from components, since dust, pollen, and dander force the system to work hard to achieve its purpose.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality with All Cool AC and Heating

Do you have questions about the indoor air quality of your home? All Cool AC & Heating is the expert in Katy, Texas, in improving your indoor air quality. Our team can quickly assess your home’s unique needs and recommend advanced indoor air quality systems like air purifiers, humidifiers, UV-C filter systems, and whole-home air purification systems. Schedule a consultation today to improve your indoor air quality and start enjoying cleaner, fresher air in your home.