People spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, with a majority of that time in residential settings. Indoor environments can have two to five times (or more) pollutants than outdoor environments and can potentially have a significant impact on health. Throughout the years, the dangers associated with poor indoor air quality (IAQ) have become much more widely understood and recognized, resulting in greater efforts to resolve the problem.
The sources of indoor air pollutants are varied. They range from compounds introduced through outdoor air exchange to the off-gassing of building materials and cleaning chemicals to by-products of combustion to biological contaminants, all of which contribute to poor air quality. In recent years, standards focused on improving indoor air quality have emerged. For example, California’s revision of building code Title 24 increased the level of filtration from MERV 8 to MERV 13 for residential buildings. Split duct systems with mesh dust screens are moving to proper filters with improved filtration efficiency and whole-house air cleaners (WHACs) with efficiency levels up to MERV 16.
What Is the Role of Filters in Residential HVAC Systems?
Long-term exposure to poor IAQ can result in allergies, asthma, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, immune dysfunctions, and even human infertility. Utilizing proper filters can significantly improve air quality and keep HVAC system coils and ducts clean so the system can continue to work efficiently.
Download Our Residential Indoor Air Quality Brochure
Good indoor air quality (IAQ) starts at home. Proper ventilation and filtration are the tools to provide a healthy indoor air environment for adults and children alike.
H&V is dedicated to delivering innovative and high quality filtration solutions to ensure optimal residential air quality. Our industry-defining line of technologies and products help to create cleaner, healthier, more sustainable residential environments.
Indoor Air Quality Is Your Quality of Life
Thirty-five years ago, on a bright summer morning, two young men graduated from the same university. They both had very similar lifestyles. Both exercised often, ate well, and were filled with hopes for the future.
When the two met again at their school’s reunion, well into their fifties, they were still very similar. They had both lived in the same city and maintained essentially the same lifestyle.
But there was one key difference. One of these men was perfectly healthy. The other was diagnosed with Chronic Bronchitis and suffered from seasonal allergies, fatigue, and frequent migraines.
What Caused The Difference
Studies have demonstrated a link between indoor air quality and a variety of health conditions from cardiovascular disease to dementia, and more. Over time exposure to pollutants in the air can have an adverse effect on one’s health.
These pollutants come from outside sources as well as sources inside the home. One man choosing to pay attention to air quality in his home has had beneficial effects on his long term health.
UNFILTEREDIndoor Air Quality
Furniture Off-gassing
New furniture and devices can contain a large concentration of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and leach harmful chemicals into the air for years through a process called “off-gassing”
Cleaning Products
Although cleaning products are meant to clean, disinfect, and sanitize your home, they are not entirely safe because they can increase indoor air pollution. Liquid cleaners and aerosol spray release chemicals called VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.
Cooking
Cooking food produces fine particles (PM2.5.) Research suggests that you could be exposed to around 3x more particulate matter while preparing a roast dinner than if you were to walk through India’s polluted capital, New Delhi.
Outdoor pollution
Anywhere from 10 to 100% of indoor air pollution consists of outdoor air pollution that has infiltrated the inside of a home or building.
Air pollution comes from a variety of sources both indoors and outdoors. These unfiltered pollutants can affect health.
SOURCES OF:Outdoor Air Pollution
Waste Management
Automobile Emissions
Wildfire Smoke
Pollen & Allergens
Agricultural Practices
Dust
Construction Sites
Filtering Indoor Air Pollution
H&V manufactures a broad range of air quality media for systems to eliminate outdoor air pollution from indoor environments and to filter recirculated indoor air.
FILTEREDIndoor Air Quality
Household dust
Dust settles and resettles throughout your space on a daily basis. This is caused by open windows and doors, dirty air filters and even everyday activities. Dust circulating indoors can cause severe health issues and should be filtered with a combination of effective HVAC filters and HEPA room air purifiers.
Pets
More than half of the global population is estimated to have a pet at home. We love our furry friends, but pet hair and skin sheds and can cause a number of medical conditions for humans if not removed from the indoor environment regularly.
Allergens
Filtering out pollen and other outdoor allergens which can make their way indoors reduces the impact of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.
Air Filters for better health
Air filters featuring high-efficiency media for home HVAC systems greatly reduce exposure to indoor air pollution and irritants. Be sure to change your filters every 3 months for best results. Learn about H&V indoor air quality media solutions here.
Room Air Purifiers
In addition to MERV11 or higher panel filters for your home’s HVAC system, room air purifiers with HEPA filters will help clean the air of excess household dust particles and pet dander.
Filtered air dramatically improves indoor air quality thus reducing exposure to harmful pollutants.
Why Choose H&V’s Residential HVAC Filter Media Solutions?
H&V offers a comprehensive product line for residential HVAC filtration applications, including:
- Technostat® – Technostat is the leading electret filter media in the market for MERV 11-13. It offers the lowest pressure drop for any given efficiency and great dust-holding capability.
- AlphaPerm® – AlphaPerm is composite media for pleated filters. It is the leading meltblown media in the market.
- MFM combi-media – H&V’s MFM media enables VOC and odor removal in residential filters by combining activated carbon in a composite with a particulate filtration layer.
- NanoWave® – NanoWave is an extended surface area filter media that provides unmatched stability in high-efficiency filtration in a multi-layer synthetic composite.
- Low-energy Ashrae glass – H&V low pressure drop Ashrae Microfiber glass media is used to provide mechanical filtration properties with excellent dust-holding capability.
At Hollingsworth & Vose, we specialize in advanced filtration materials for creating a cleaner world. Our extensive expertise, broad process capabilities, and global footprint make us a worldwide leader in filtration. Contact us today to learn how we can improve your filtration performance.