Indoor Air Quality Terms You Should Know
Everyone wants to make sure their home’s indoor air quality is good. Because pollutants, including smoke, gases, mold, and other allergens, cause poor indoor air quality and can trigger health issues, more homeowners are seeking solutions.
As demand for improved indoor air quality grows, more buzzwords, acronyms, and technical jargon have hit the market. To help homeowners better understand indoor air quality, the professionals at Extreme Climates created a list of commonly used terms with definitions.
Glossary of IAQ Industry Acronyms and Jargon
Indoor Air Quality Assessment: This covers testing indoor air to determine whether pollutants are present, identify potential sources of contamination, and develop remediation solutions.
Air Quality Index: A standardized system used to report outdoor air quality based on pollutant levels. The AQI ranges from “Good” to “Hazardous,” helping people understand potential health risks and when to limit outdoor activities.
Allergens: Substances that can trigger or aggravate allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms. Common allergens include dust mites, pet dander, pollen, tobacco smoke, mold, and mildew. This is just a small sample of a much longer list of allergens that can affect you.
Air Filtration: The process of removing contaminants from the air, using filters to remove particles, gases, and pollutants to improve air quality.
HVAC: Your Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system regulates indoor air quality, humidity, and ventilation in your home or building.
HEPA Filter: A High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filter that captures at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
MERV Rating: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is a scale rating how well an air filter catches particles ranging from 0.3 to 10 microns. For reference, a human hair is roughly 70 microns.
Biological Contaminants: These allergens include bacteria, viruses, and other airborne contaminants that come from humans, pets, and other living organisms. They can trigger a wide range of allergic reactions and related health issues.
Relative Humidity: RH is usually represented by a percentage and measures the amount of moisture in the air. Ideal indoor humidity levels for indoor air quality are typically between 30-50 percent.
Duct Sealing: This process seals air leaks in HVAC ductwork, minimizing the entry of dust and other airborne pollutants into a home. It improves indoor air quality and can save money on the utility bill.
Air Changes Per Hour: ACH is a method that assesses how effectively ventilation is working. It measures how many times per hour the air in a room or defined space is removed and replaced with fresh air.
Volatile Organic Compounds: These are gases created by paints, cleaners, household products, and organic chemicals that can vaporize into the air at room temperature. VOCs can contribute to air pollution and trigger health problems.
IAQ Sensor: An electronic device that can detect gases, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, or particulate matter.
Particulate Matter: A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air and often categorized by size, such as 2.5 microns or smaller.
Carbon Monoxide: A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion from fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, gas stoves and gas water heaters, fireplaces, and running vehicles in attached garages.
Radon: A naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep into buildings from cracks in the foundation, crawl spaces, and gaps around pipes. It can pose lung cancer risks over time.
Air Quality Monitoring: This process methodically measures temperature, humidity, and pollutant concentrations in the air inside a home or building.
Get Help Improving Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality in Yorktown, Williamsburg & Gloucester
Extreme Climates offers a wide range of indoor air quality services to identify issues and help improve your IAQ. From routine HVAC maintenance to whole-home humidifiers and air scrubber products, our team can remediate pollutants and allergens before they affect your home. Contact us to learn more about our air quality services and to schedule an in-home consultation.