What is Indoor Air Quality?
"Indoor air quality," or IAQ, is a relatively new topic in environmental safety. While a lot of attention has been placed on outdoor pollution over the past few decades, the focus on indoor air quality is just beginning. The quality of a home's air mainly has to do with the amount of pollutants inside, but it's also determined by humidity and ventilation levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that concentrations of pollutants can be up to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors. The American Lung Association estimates that most people spend 90% of their time indoors, so clean indoor air is very important.
What causes indoor air pollution?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, items inside the home that release gas are the primary cause of indoor air problems. The list includes carpeting, upholstered furniture, gas appliances, paints and solvents, cleaning products, air fresheners, dry-cleaned clothing and pesticides. If you have an attached garage, fumes from the gasoline, oil and antifreeze in your car can find their way into your home's air. Harsh chemicals can also come from cigarette smoke and woodstoves.
Insufficient ventilation can worsen the problem because pollutants get trapped inside. Tightly sealed and well-insulated homes keep out fresher outdoor air, which can dilute the pollutants. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.
What is the best indoor air quality product?
Many technologies available today only combat one or two classes of air contaminants. Holtop fresh air purification system ERV is designed to combat all three for comprehensive air purification. It can not only bring clean fresh air to indoor, push out stale air, but also reduce the ventilation cost when running air conditioning system.
How do I know which indoor air quality product is right for me?
You can contact Holtop sales team to find the best products for you and your family. Results are based on the issues you identify as problems in your home. You can also contact your local HOLTOP dealer to evaluate your home and indoor comfort system.
What can I do myself to enhance my home's air quality?
There are several everyday steps you can take to reduce the pollutants circulating in your home's air, including:
- Store household cleaners, paint solvents and chemical products in tightly sealed containers. If possible, keep them outdoors.
- Clean and vacuum at least once a week.
- Regularly wash bed linens and stuffed toys.
- Keep windows closed when pollen, pollution and humidity levels are high.
- Ask your local HOLTOP dealer to inspect and clean your home's heating and cooling system.
- Make sure your home is properly ventilated. (Modern homes are well insulated and sealed to conserve energy, which means airborne pollutants have no way to escape).
- Keep humidity levels within a healthy, comfortable range to prevent growth of mold and mildew (30% - 60%).
- Avoid using scented deodorizers and odor-masking air fresheners, which may cause toxic chemicals.
- Choose furnishings that emit the smallest possible amount of chemical vapors.
- Do not allow smoking inside your home and make sure all gas appliances are properly vented.