November 25, 2013


Many of us spend almost 90% of our time indoors.  Is the air you are breathing indoors making you or your family sick?

Air pollution does not just exist outside. In fact, the EPA reports that indoor air can be 100 times more polluted than the air outside, a thought made even more alarming when you consider that we spend almost 90% of our time indoors. Instead of treating the symptoms of air pollution, why not go after the source and have your HVAC experts install a whole-house air purifier?

Causes of Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor pollution is caused by a number of sources commonly found in your home. Fireplace emissions, stoves, cigarette smoke, and cleaning products all contribute to a poor air quality. High levels of indoor pollution in your home may cause headaches, eye irritation, sinus infections, fatigue, and nausea. If you feel that you or your family suffer from any of these frequently and without explanation then indoor air pollution may be the cause. Consult with a qualified HVAC technician to see how you can benefit from a whole house air purifier.

A Whole House Air Purifier System

Whole-house air purifiers are installed in conjunction with your already existing central heating and cooling system. Every time that system runs, it will be passing air back into your home that has been filtered of harmful contaminants.

Still not convinced that a whole-house air cleaner is right for your family?  Then consider these facts:

  • All but 5% of respiratory problems are caused are caused by air pollution.
  • Over 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma and of those, 1/3 are kids.
  • Each of us inhales 3,500 gallons of air each day.
  • 40,000 dust mites are alive in one ounce of dust and one person will shed 700,000 skin flakes each day.
  • Children will inhale more particles for their size than adults.
  • Those suffering from asthma are more prone to attacks in a home that is highly polluted. Installing a whole-house air purifier can help soothe the symptoms of asthma in your child.

But Wait, There’s More

In addition to the health benefits, a whole house air purifier will also cut down on dust accumulation in your house. Dust build-up can cause damage to your heating and cooling system causing you expensive repair and increased maintenance visits. It will also make those systems run with less efficiency causing an increase in your electric bills.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers has developed a system that allows measuring how effectively filters work at removing particles. These are called MERV ratings and range from a low of 1 to a high of 20. Filters with a MERV between 7 and 13 are the most effective filters for in-home use. Higher MERV ratings are generally not recommended for residential use. Check with your whole house air purifier installer to see how effective your unit’s filters are going to be.

Saint Louis HVAC Contractor

Homeowners take many precautions to ensure the health and safety of their family, but often don’t realize that one of the biggest threats to their health is the actual air that they are breathing. Contact Scott-Lee Heating Company at (314) 200-0788 today to get an estimate on a whole-house air purifier. The sooner you have it installed, the sooner your family will start breathing better.