Did you know that the United States Environmental Protection Agency considers poor indoor air quality to be one of the top environmental dangers in our society? Here are some statistics and facts regarding indoor air quality according to the U.S. EPA:
- • Indoor air contains almost 5 times as many pollutants compared to outdoor air (we spend on average 90% of our time indoors!)
- • Indoor air quality in schools is concerning due to the amount of occupants
- • Asthma worsens in poor air quality environments
As we mentioned above, we spend a ton of time indoors between working in an office, going to school and sleeping in our homes each night. Take into account how often you breathe while at work and home; about 17,000-30,000 breaths in one day, according to wonderopolis.org. With how often we breathe indoors, good air quality is crucial to our health. But why is it so important?
Negative effects of poor indoor air quality
The importance of indoor air quality is crucial for the following health concerns: illnesses, allergies and our long-term health. A person can experience the negative side effects of poor air quality after just one single exposure or may experience side effects over time. These side effects include watery/itchy eyes, dizziness, stuffy throat/nose, etc. Those with preexisting health concerns are most likely to be severely affected by indoor air pollutants. Overtime, poor indoor air quality may result in diseases such as heart disease, cancer and respiratory illnesses.
Causes of poor indoor air quality
There are several factors that can cause poor indoor air quality: poor ventilation systems that fail to provide fresh air, outdoor contaminants brought indoors, pollutants from everyday activities/equipments like cleaning products, office machines/products, etc.
What can you do to improve the quality of your indoor air?
First and foremost, if you’re a business owner, your commercial indoor ventilation system should be inspected to ensure it is working its best. Regular HVAC inspections should be performed not only for the health of your customers and employees of your commercial building, but for extending a system’s lifespan. At Cates, we understand the importance of indoor air quality and care about the health of your customers/employees. Contact our friendly team by calling (913) 888-4470 to schedule a commercial HVAC inspection today. We offer a free estimate for commercial HVAC replacement projects!
If you find your system is running at optimum performance, consider swapping your cleaners that include harsh chemicals for more environmentally friendly cleaners. You can also take simple measures that can have a huge impact like banning smoking from your building or home, changing system filters often, etc. Also be sure to keep an eye out for any water leaks and be sure to repair biological contaminants to prevent mold.
By taking the above actions, you can improve your indoor air quality at work or at home. At Cates, we want everyone to rest easy knowing we’ll do everything we can to improve your indoor air quality. If you’re a commercial business owner or homeowner and have any questions on how you can improve your indoor air quality, contact our friendly team. We’d love to answer any questions you may have!
