As people tend to spend about 90% of our time indoors, the air quality within your Nashville home is likely important to you. Poor indoor air quality is one of the many risks we face on a daily basis that we can avoid. Many people do not realize that air pollution both indoors and outdoors can have an impact on health.
Our very existence depends on the ability to breath, which means we must consume quality air in order to sustain ourselves. Our control over the quality of the air outdoors is limited, but we have more control over the air inside our homes. To ensure that the residents of your home are healthy and safe, it is crucial to measure and regulate the indoor air quality of your home.
Here’s what you need to know about the importance of Nashville’s indoor air quality:
- Importance of Clean Air
- Indoor Air Pollution
- How to Improve Nashville’s Indoor Air Quality
- Cumberland Mechanical can Improve the air in Your Home
Importance of Clean Air
Pollutants in the air can have direct effects on health, resulting in consequences right away or years down the road. In many cases, the short-term harm caused by poor indoor air quality can be treated. As the immediate effects of air pollution can resemble common viruses, such as headaches, coughing and sinus congestion, many people overlook air quality as the cause of these symptoms.
People who are most sensitive, such as the elderly, children and those with weak immune systems, can suffer severe and even fatal effects from air pollution. Many delayed effects do not present themselves until it is too late, making it vital to ensure good air quality in the home.
Indoor Air Pollution
It can often be difficult to detect pollutants with the senses, so homeowners tend to be unaware of their presence. Among the sources of poor indoor air quality are formaldehyde, new furniture, paint on the walls, poor insulation, cleaning products, and lead. While everyone knows how harmful pollutants can be, clean air is even more important due to the fact that different people may react more severely than others.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) measures how dangerous air pollution is, with a higher number indicating more dangerous pollution. Air quality is measured from 0-500 and if any pollutant is above 300, hazardous conditions are present. According to the EPA, indoor air quality must be above 100 to be considered unhealthy. To protect public health, this standard has been set.
Improve your indoor air quality in Nashville with Cumberland Mechanical today!
How to Improve Air Quality
In many cases, poorly installed or old insulation can release flame retardants and chemicals with high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Volatile organic compounds are chemicals derived from carbon, such as formaldehyde, that are easily oxidized into gases. It is essential to replace the insulation in a home if you are looking to improve its indoor air quality.
It is very popular to use spray foam for insulation. However, if this type of insulation is not installed correctly or if the chemicals in the mixture are not following an appropriate ratio, the curing process will be slowed down and the area within your home will be exposed to a variety of potential threats. Among the threats are off-gassing problems or the release of toxins into the air which will pollute it and make the air within your building unsafe to consume.
With studies and technological advances throughout the years, a professional insulation company will have the proper knowledge about the effects of chemicals and will follow the newly developed standards for your utmost safety.
In an old home, materials may contain chemical or installation methods that are no longer safe. Installing new insulation can dramatically improve the quality of indoor air in a home saving occupants from health concerns and making living there safer. It is recommended to use GreenGuard Gold certified products when improving the indoor air quality in your home. A quality indoor air expert can help you breathe easier.
Cumberland Mechanical can Improve the air quality in your Nashville Home
Cumberland Mechanical is a family owned business and is proud to be serving the Middle Tennessee Community. Our team of leaders have over 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry. Let us help you solve your indoor air quality issues. Contact our team of experts today!
