Did you know the air you breathe inside your Central Illinois home could put your health at risk?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where pollutants can be two to five times higher than outdoors. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can affect children, older individuals, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases the hardest.

While you cannot always control the air you breathe outdoors, MB Heating & Cooling can help you improve the air quality inside your Springfield home.

Indoor Air vs. Outdoor Air

The American Lung Association (ALA) gave poor grades to several counties in Illinois in its 2022 State of the Air report card. Cook County, for example, received a failing grade with the warning: “The air you breathe may put your health at risk.”

Sangamon County received a passing grade, but residents were told, “The air you breathe needs your support.”

Eliminating Poor Air Quality

Now think about the air inside your home. Is it stale or fresh? Are there lingering odors in different rooms? How well do you sleep at night?

Here are some common enemies of indoor air quality—and ways to combat them!

1. Dust . . . and more dust

Dust gives you fits. It can make life miserable, especially if you react by sneezing, wheezing, and coughing. Dust mites trigger allergy symptoms and worsen breathing difficulties for individuals with asthma.

Solution: Your air filter provides a great way to trap dust and other airborne pollutants. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendation on how often to change filters. Regularly changing your filter can also lower your heating and cooling costs by up to 15 percent.

Solution: Our Legacy Line EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter can protect and improve heating and cooling system performance with a MERV 10 efficiency that treats the air flowing through your system. It captures 63 percent of particles 1.0 to 3.0 microns in size.

2. Mold and mildew

Mold loves moisture. And once it appears, mold almost refuses to go away! We recommend keeping your humidity level from 40 to 60 percent year-round.

Solution: UV lighting can stop mold before it circulates in your airflow. Our Bryant Preferred UV Lamp attacks and prohibits mold growth on the surface of your indoor coil and drain pan.

Solution: Ask MB Heating & Cooling about installing a whole-home dehumidifier that connects to your ductwork and can restore proper humidity levels.

3. Viruses & Bacteria

Germs can hang out anywhere in your room, from light switches to doorknobs, to countertops and faucets. Viruses and bacteria can be airborne too.

Solution: Be sure to routinely sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors in your home. Another easy way to prevent excess debris inside your Springfield home is to place a doormat at the front entrance.

Solution: Our Bryant DGAPA Whole-Home Air Purifier cleans the air flowing through your system. It captures 95 percent of particles and inactivates 99 percent of select viruses and other airborne pathogens.

4. VOCs

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can trigger dizziness, nausea, headaches, and allergic reactions. Many household products, cleaning liquids, paints, solvents, pesticides, furnishings, printers, permanent markers, and other items emit chemicals as gas to create VOCs in your home.

Solution: Open windows whenever possible and use a fan to draw the air outdoors.

Solution: Maintaining your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is one of your best defenses against poor indoor air quality. Schedule a spring tune-up today with MB Heating & Cooling, and check it off the list!

5. Cooking Odors

What’s cooking on the stove? It smells delicious! Unfortunately, cooking can be a big contributor to indoor pollution. Without proper ventilation, the smoke stays indoors. Grease and bacteria will accumulate on surfaces. Cooking can also produce excess moisture, leading to mold and mildew growth.

Solution: Again, open windows or run fans whenever possible. If you have a range hood, run it every time you cook with your stovetop or oven.

Solution: Our Bryant ERVXXSVA Ventilator brings fresh air into your home without opening the windows. This ERV can remove moisture from incoming air during hot, steamy months and can supply a refreshing breeze of outdoor air all year long.

Call Your Indoor Air Quality Experts Today

MB Heating & Cooling provides quality heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical services to homes and businesses in Springfield, IL, and surrounding areas. Improve your air quality today. Call us at 217.544.HEAT or request service online.