The fall season is bringing cooler temperatures to many regions of the country.
That means people will likely be spending more time indoors, making October a fitting time to recognize “National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month.”
Why should people care about indoor air quality? One reason is the amount of time people spend in indoor spaces.
Tightly Sealed Homes
The average American spends 90% of their time indoors, where pollutants can be concentrated 2–5 times higher
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 90% of their time indoors, where pollutants can be concentrated 2–5 times higher than in the air outdoors.
On top of that, innovations in home construction that increase efficiency by tightly sealing homes from outdoor conditions also trap more pollutants indoors.
These pollutants are increasing with the growing prevalence of synthetic building materials and off-gassing from things like household cleaners and furniture.
Healthy Air Awareness
At AprilAire, the focus is on the health and wellness of people’s homes. They have assembled the AprilAire Healthy Air System to help protect users and their family from polluted indoor air. It provides:
- Fresh Air Ventilation — Helps dilute and remove contaminants from indoor air, and brings in fresh air from the outdoors
- Air Filtration — Aprilaire MERV 16 Allergy & Asthma Filters capture up to 99% of airborne particles (Contaminants removed based on air passing through the filtering system.)
- Humidity Control — Keeping humidity between 40–60% minimizes virus survival rates, makes the environment more comfortable, and can lower energy costs
- Radon Testing and Mitigation — Testing helps detect radon early, so an AprilAire Radon Control Professional can redirect any harmful gas away from the home
- IAQ Zone Controls — Precise monitors and controls are designed to ensure a comfortable environment throughout the home
Let’s take a closer look at one of the most crucial aspects of healthy indoor air as people head into the cold, dry months—balanced humidity.
Balancing Humidity
Itchy skin, dry sinuses, and static shock are all signs of low humidity in the home
Itchy skin, dry sinuses, and static shock are all signs of low humidity in the home. One of the best investments people can make to improve comfort and wellness during the winter is an AprilAire whole-home humidifier.
Balanced humidity feels warmer and maintains heat better than dry air, so the home feels more comfortable without the extra strain on the heating system.
On top of comfort and cost savings, proper humidity control also promotes better sleep, preserves valuables in the home, and makes it harder for viruses to survive. October is the perfect time to assess the health and comfort of the indoor air. If people find issues they need to address, they can reach out to an AprilAire Healthy Air Pro to find solutions that will make a real difference for their home environment.
