Yemen Sound

For homeowners in the United States, some of the most important aspects considered when choosing a new air system for their house are the unit’s safety features. When it comes to modern HVAC designs, both energy efficiency and indoor air quality are priorities for the overall health concerns of the homeowner and their family. Certain fuel sources are also better in terms of environmental impact and monthly energy bills. Depending upon the fuel sources and the ventilation systems used, certain types of air conditioners may be more efficient in filtering out indoor air pollution than others, giving the homeowner much to consider.

If members of a homeowner’s family have major health concerns, such as asthma or other forms of respiratory illness, than the quality of the indoor environment can be an important factor in picking the right air conditioning unit. Here, we will look at some of the risk factors to consider when buying a new HVAC unit, along with the elements that directly affect your home’s amount of indoor air pollution, as well as possible adverse health effects.

Air Quality and Public Health

In most homes, an air conditioning unit is pre-installed. That said, homeowners may choose upgrade their system, especially as new technology addresses health concerns. For example, some consumer products can be affected by both outdoor air pollution and poor indoor air quality. For many families, indoor air quality is a major health concern, especially when health hazards may be caused by the ventilation of air pollution from outdoor air entering the home’s living space. Although many modern HVAC units directly address this health concern with new ductwork and air filtration system designs, there are still important tasks for a homeowner to undertake to ensure their indoor environment remains clean.

A popular type of modern HVAC system in the United States is a heat pump system. With this technology, a single unit works as both an air conditioner and heating system, depending upon the homeowner’s preferences. The outdoor air can be either heated or cooled before distributed throughout the house, making energy efficiency a top priority. However, the indoor air quality is wholly dependent upon the heat pump’s ventilation capabilities. Filtering out such outdoor air pollution as pesticides, pollen, ozone fumes, and other gases or toxins is an important aspect to a good heat pump system. When conducting the necessary due diligence prior to an HVAC upgrade, be sure to research the air exchange rate of every air conditioner system, as well as its efficiency at maintaining a healthy indoor air quality level.

Indoor Air Pollution and Air Quality

There are numerous reasons why indoor air pollution is also known as household air pollution. Many contaminants can either be made up of organic chemicals, or are the byproduct of other natural elements. For example, pollen, pet dander, mold and dust within the carpet fibers, tobacco smoke, or mold growth due to moisture and humidity can all have major negative health effects on those family members with allergies, respiratory disease, heart disease, or related health problems. Aside from allergens within the indoor environment which can cause allergy symptoms such as irritation of the eyes and asthma attacks, there are serious health concerns that can come from natural sources. Family members who notice headaches, fatigue, dizziness may be susceptible to carbon monoxide leaks from such household consumer products and appliances as the stove or gases from the home’s heating system. As carbon monoxide is a particularly dangerous indoor pollutant, a switch to cleaner fuels and an immediate maintenance check by a professional technician is important.

For concerns regarding major health impacts, a routine check of common indoor air pollutants and contaminants should be part of your normal routine. In addition to safety precautions, possible health hazards and major health concerns regarding respiratory illness and other adverse health effects should factor into your selection of a new home HVAC unit. Most modern household products run on clean fuel alternatives with an eye on energy efficiency and the health and safety of the homeowner’s family. When researching your next air condition and heating system, be sure to research the energy use and health assurances of the unit and model you choose.