It is estimated that in Southwest Florida many people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. Unfortunately the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air since it is constantly being recycled.

Indoor air quality problems can not only affect your comfort - but also your health. People who are the most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill. Anyone suffering from respiratory, cardiovascular disease, or compromised immune systems should be extra careful.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution. Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products (like air fresheners), release pollutants nearly continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking; the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters; the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities; the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities; and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in house-keeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.

Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not introducing enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.

If you are concerned about your indoor air, please call Sean McCutcheons Air Conditioning and Heating. We have the expertise and the products to improve your indoor air quality.

Ultraviolet light has just the right amount of energy to break organic molecular bonds.

As micro-organisms pass by the UV rays radiated from the ultraviolet lamp, this bond breakage translates into cellular or genetic damage for micro-organisms, such as germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi (like molds), etc. This results in the destruction of micro-organisms.

The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of ultraviolet light with simultaneous use of HEPA air filters. They suggests UV lights should be used in buildings for indoor air quality purposes, and states that may be the final line of defense against those diseases that have developed resistance to drugs, such as tuberculosis and others.

A study by Air & Waste Management Association found the combination of a HEPA air filter and germicidal UV lamp reduced bacteria by 80% in a 3072 cubic foot chamber.

High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filters are the most efficient filter at trapping very small particles, including the following: mold spores, many bacteria and viruses, and, of course, larger items such as dust.

HEPA Air filters are an effective way to enhance the quality of air in your home.

The American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)and the air filter industry have come up with a standardized rating system - the MERV rating. This numbering system makes it easier to evaluate and compare mechanical air filters.