Regardless of the type of air filtration system you have put in your home, you’ll be breathing cleaner, healthier air and preventing the spread of illness. Don’t let your family breathe in dirty air that can cause illnesses.

Clean air is something that we take for granted in our daily lives, but air quality is something that we should start to question when people in our homes start becoming ill more frequently. While it is assumed that the air in our homes is safe, that isn’t always the case. Indoor air pollution can be dangerous. Cates Heating and Cooling recommends that all homes in the Kansas City Metro Area contain air filtration systems to keep the air quality homes safe from indoor pollution.

Everyone knows that mold and mildew have no place in the home, but did you know that they can lead to indoor pollution that can make you and your family sick? The spores from mold can get into the air and cause a lot of problems with the air in your home.

Smoke can also contribute to indoor air pollution. Cigarette smoke isn’t the only culprit that can lead to poor air quality. Fireplaces and stoves can also contribute to smoke in your home. A poorly ventilated home is at an even higher risk of smoke polluting the air inside.

Natural gasses can cause big problems, too. Radon and carbon monoxide are both gasses that can lead to big health problems. Radon is found in certain rock formations that may exist under your home. It can also be found in some building materials. Radon is a significant cause of lung cancer. Carbon monoxide can be released into your home from cigarettes or a faulty furnace. Carbon monoxide can lead to nausea, unconsciousness, and eventually even death.

If you live in a home that was built before 1975, some of the materials used to build your home may contain asbestos, which can cause lung cancer. While many homes have been checked for asbestos, a lot of homes may still contain the harmful material.

Recent home repairs or remodels can also lead to poor air quality. If you have recently had your home under any renovation, you can probably bet that the air quality in your home isn’t what it should be due to the lingering dust in the air. A lot of chemicals can hang around in the air of your home as well, so be wary of using those products in your home without proper ventilation.

Have you noticed that the members of your household are becoming sick more frequently than they used to? If you live with generally healthy people who all the sudden start becoming sick all the time, you will want to consider that the problem could be the air in your home.

People with allergies often associate them with outdoor influences. However, the pollutants in your home can be the trigger for your allergies. Take note of when your allergies start to act up. If your allergies are at their worst in your home, it may be due to the quality of the air.

If you start to notice problems associated with poor air quality, you will want to call out a professional to test the air in your home and do a home inspection. They will be able to tell you the cause of the issue and provide insight on how to improve the quality of the air in your home.

Indoor air pollution is no joke. Having clean air is important to keeping you and your family safe and healthy in your home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air quality inside homes is often between two and five times worse than the air quality outside.

While that seems scary, it can get worse. After certain activities, such as painting or floor removal, the quality of the air inside your home can be up to 1,000 times worse than the outside air due to the gasses released from paint, adhesives, and many other common household items.

Constant exposure to poor quality air can lead to health problems including headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Irritation in the respiratory tract can lead to coughing, long-term infections, and mucus secretion. Cold-like symptoms are also common in people who live in poor quality air. For people with asthma, poor air quality can make it difficult to breathe. Short-term effects of indoor pollution are generally treatable.

Long-term exposure to poor quality air can lead to more serious problems such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Lung cancer is common in people who are exposed to poor quality air over extended periods of time.

There are portable and whole-home air filtration systems. For your home, Cates Heating and Cooling recommends getting a whole-home system that cleans the air constantly. There are four different kinds of whole-home air filtration systems: flat, electronic, extended media, and ultraviolet. Each one has different benefits.

Flat Filters

Flat filters are found in forced-air furnaces and consist of matted fiberglass. These filters should be changed monthly because they get clogged with dust. Once they are clogged, they stop being effective. They also don’t block microscopic particles that tend to cause most of the previously mentioned health issues.

Extended Media Filters

An extended media filter is basically a group of flat filters placed together. They are more effective than a flat filter, because the layers of filtration last longer. Extended media filters are installed into the ductwork of your home and must be done by a professional. They will need to be replaced once a year.

Electronic Filters

Electronic filters, sometimes called electrostatic precipitators use a high-voltage current to put an electrical charge on particles that magnetizes them. The other end of the unit is oppositely charged, which draws the particles to it and prevents them from leaving the filtration system. This kind of filter is also placed in the ductwork of your home and needs to be installed by a professional. The filter itself will never need to be replaced, but the aluminum collector plates should be cleaned every few months.

Ultraviolet Filters

Ultraviolet filters are add-ons to the electronic filter. If someone in your household has a compromised immune system, this might be what you need to keep them well. UV filters kill bacteria and viruses in the air.