The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that indoor air often contains substantially more pollutants than the air outside.*
When you consider that most Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, it’s clear why you need to pay attention to your indoor air quality in Aurora, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Elgin, Elmhurst, Naperville, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Schaumburg, and Wheaton, IL.
What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Pollutants stem from many sources. Some are awfully familiar, such as dry cleaning, pet dander, harsh cleaning products, or tobacco smoke.
Others are more subtle, such as perfumes, air fresheners, or scented candles. Still others are elusive, such as organic growth lurking on an HVAC coil, or the pollen carried into your home on your shoes or by pets.
We can help you pinpoint potential sources of contaminants in your home. Once we’ve identified the cause, we’ll explain your options and help you create a plan to ensure that you and your family breathe more comfortably all year.
Protect Your Home’s Air Quality
- IAQ products: We carry and install air scrubbers, air cleaners, and UV light air purifier devices that filter, remove, or destroy airborne pollutants. Mechanical ventilators help improve airflow and create a healthy exchange of indoor and outdoor air.
- HVAC maintenance: Regular maintenance reduces the chance of organic growth from an overflowing condensate pan and protects against carbon monoxide from a defective furnace.
- Humidity control: Both high and low levels of humidity can affect your family’s comfort and health.
Dangers of Poor Indoor Air Quality
The typical home is filled with various pollutants that can diminish indoor air quality. While some hazards are unavoidable, many can be proactively controlled by installing air purifiers, air filters, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and UV purifiers.
These systems neutralize and remove contamination from circulation, making your home cleaner, fresher, and more comfortable.
While every home is different, common indoor air pollutants in Illinois include:
- Bacteria and viruses
- Volatile organic compounds
- Formaldehyde
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Pesticides
- Mold and mildew
- Cleaning agents
- Carbon monoxide
- Carbon dioxide
- Smoke
According to the EPA, failure to properly manage indoor air quality can negatively influence one’s health. Chronic exposure to indoor air pollution is associated with many potential long-term health consequences, which makes it a priority for all homeowners to address.
Common issues that poor air quality can trigger or exacerbate include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Allergies
- Asthma, COPD, and other respiratory conditions
Ideal Indoor Air Quality
With the right systems in your home, optimal indoor air quality is possible. According to the Illinois Public Health Department, Â you’ll want to maintain CO2 levels of around 600 ppm.
You’ll also want to keep particle pollution, CO, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone as low as possible. It’s ideal to maintain relative humidity somewhere between 20% and 60%.  Â
Honest Advice from Knowledgeable Professionals
Oncourse Heating Cooling Plumbing has a network of in-house NATE-certified technicians and trusted, licensed, insured, independent contractors. We offer convenient, simple, reliable, and trustworthy services for confident homeownership and peace of mind. We provide clear pricing policies and free in-home estimates on new equipment.
Our staff operates according to the highest safety, performance, and ethical standards. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, we offer equipment that’s quiet, energy-efficient, and environmentally safe. Our customer service line is available 24/7. Call today to learn more about IAQ issues and their solutions.
* Source: Report on the Environment: Indoor Air Quality by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
UV light purifiers are designed to neutralize biological contamination, including bacteria and viruses. Installed within your ducts, air that passes through them is exposed to ultraviolet light, neutralizing viruses, bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi by destroying their DNA or RNA. This prevents them from causing infection or from reproducing. Â
It’s absolutely worth every penny. Properly fitted and installed, HEPA filters remove anything larger than .3 microns, which means they can effectively remove around 99.97% of contamination, including pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and airborne particulate matter.Â
