When you think of pollution, tailpipes and smokestacks are probably what come to mind — not your living room. But our homes are filled with noxious substances that can be harmful to your health.
Given the fact that we spend from 65 to 90 percent of our time inside, according to the Washington Department of Health, it’s important to keep indoor air clean.
When interacting with our customers — whether they’re looking for conservation tips or talking about seasonal energy bills — we consider asking them if they regularly inspect their furnace filters, or if they use a different type of air cleaner. Doing so can benefit their health and ensure their conditioning equipment is running properly.
Homes used to do well at cleaning the air themselves, but that’s no longer the case.
“Developers used to build homes that would ventilate well on their own because we didn’t build them very tight. But we got more fresh air than we wanted in the winter,” said DuWayne Dunham, energy services supervisor with Clark Public Utilities. “That changed in the 1990s when we became more conservation-minded and began building homes air-tight and controlling ventilation mechanically.”
Dust, pet dander, harsh cleaning products, and secondhand smoke are well-known potential breathing irritants. But a recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found perfumes, air fresheners, lotions and fabric softeners and many other scented home products were found to be a significant source of indoor pollution.
There’s no magic wand to completely correct indoor air quality, but it can be improved. How that’s achieved depends on a home’s construction, homeowner’s willingness to maintain filters, the pollutants being targeted, and, sometimes, a homeowner’s budget.
Here’s a quick overview of a few different filters and machines on the market.
Most homes filter air at the furnace. They typically use a 1-inch pleated paper filter. How effective that filter is depends on its minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV, rating. The higher the MERV number, the finer particle it’ll stop.
The most effective paper filters are 4 inches thick. They have lots of surface area to catch particles, and they have a longer lifespan than the 1-inch variety.
Of course, any filter needs to be clean to do the job well. But how often that will have to happen will vary from home to home. Check yours once a month to determine when it actually needs to be replaced.
There are also washable furnace filters on the market, but they typically have lower MERV ratings and require more frequent maintenance than disposable filters.
Electronic air filters, sometimes called ionizers, use electrically charged filters to catch small particles, including bacteria and mold. On the plus-side, they are reusable — needing only to be washed every few months. But they can be prohibitively expensive, they consume electricity, and many models produce ozone, a known lung irritant.
Some remedies can affect bill
If homeowners are worried about chemicals and gases, some air cleaners have an activated carbon filter specifically for that purpose. Those filters can also be purchased for furnaces as well. Just note, there’s no rating for carbon filters.
Usually, air is only filtered when the heating or cooling system is running. But a customer can get extra filtration by setting the furnace to “fan” and letting it run awhile. However, they might notice a difference on their energy bills. It also can affect a home’s humidity levels.
Homes without central air can be refreshed by throwing open a few windows in the dry, mild-weather months. But homeowners are cautioned against opening them this time of year — unless they’re not bothered by high utility bills.
Portable air cleaners are a good solution for a home without centralized air. But it has to have a clean air delivery rate that is adequate for the room it’ll be used in. Generally speaking, the higher the fan speed and the longer it runs, the more air it will filter. Again, these will add to a home’s energy bill.
“When we think of indoor air quality, filtration is often the first thing that comes to mind, but proper ventilation is also important,” Dunham said.
Customers should be sure to remember to use fans when showering, cooking, doing laundry or anything else that produces moisture. And continue to run the fan when you’re finished until the moisture has fully evaporated. If you don’t have a fan in those locations, opening a window will help maintain healthy air quality and prevent mold. In the Pacific Northwest, it’s important to watch indoor humidity — especially in the winter.
