Homeowners in Massachusetts spend a lot of time indoors, especially in the winter. The truth is, indoor air quality is often 2–5 times worse than outdoors. This happens because we trap pollutants inside by keeping the windows and doors closed. The quality of your indoor air boils down to how often your home gets new air from outside, also known as your “air exchange rate”.
With windows open, your home gets four to five fresh air changes per hour. But with windows closed, this drops to just one or two air changes per hour. This means that your family is frequently exposed to higher concentrations of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from off-gassing of building materials, carpet, flooring, and even household chemicals. Pollen, dust, and pet dander also get trapped inside, which is especially tough for family members with allergies and asthma.
Of course, we can’t keep our windows open all the time, so we sometimes have to give up on air quality. That’s why we recommend our customers use IAQ systems to make the air inside better. These products can make a big difference in how fresh and comfy your home feels while also saving energy from your heating and cooling system. With these products, you can dramatically improve your indoor air quality and comfort while conserving energy used by your heating and cooling system.
Can Store-Bought Air Purifiers Help?
Any sort of air quality treatment is better than nothing. Portable air filtration and dehumidification units can solve some issues for smaller spaces, but a whole home system can solve several problems at once with greater results. If you have tried portable units before and weren’t satisfied with the results, a whole-home solution may be right for you.
It can be hard to imagine how much better it feels to breathe cleaner air until you actually experience it. When deciding whether an air purifier is worth it, the best place to start is to track your symptoms indoors and discuss your experiences with a licensed service provider.
