Furnace On? Breathe Easier With Illinois Air Quality Experts

With pumpkin patch season behind us and colder weather setting in, people will start spending more time indoors. Although there’s still time to enjoy a few last nice days, most windows and doors will be shuttered come Thanksgiving. Now’s the time to start thinking about the potential impact of the changing seasons on our health and wellness.

Through Breathe Easy Illinois, healthy air experts in our communities have the solutions to clear viruses, mold and other contaminants from homes and commercial buildings. Find your local professional at BreatheEasyIllinois.com.

Let’s clear the air

Pollutants are 2-5 times higher indoors than outside, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It’s true COVID has highlighted the importance of indoor air quality, but even in a pandemic-free world clean air throughout all buildings is a must.

“For the past 20+ months, the HVAC industry has understandably placed its focus on installing solutions to help eliminate airborne viruses — something our contractor members are well-trained to do,” said Tony Adolf, Executive Vice President of SMACNA Greater Chicago. “But in a typical world, clean air also includes things like combating the buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. What most people don’t know is that higher concentrations of CO2 can cause headaches, shortness of breath and can impact school or work performance. More fresh air and increased ventilation is key to creating a healthier environment, whether at home, at school or in a place of business.”

As you seal your windows for the fall and winter seasons, follow these tips to keep the air inside your building as healthy as possible.

• Regularly check your building’s air filters. High-quality filters are a simple, inexpensive way to improve the quality of air you breathe but won’t do much good if you’re not regularly replacing them. Clogged filters can make your system work harder, but also fail to filter dust, dander and other pollutants that can cause occupants to become sick. Make sure all filters are sized correctly for your building’s needs and are within their recommended service life.
• Adjust temperature and humidity levels. The EPA recommends an indoor humidity level between 30-60%, depending on the outside temperature. Too low and it can cause respiratory irritation and increased sickness. Too high and it promotes the growth of mold and mildew. Proper humidity levels will heat your home or office more efficiently and help you save money on utility bills.
• Invest in a CO2 monitor. In small quantities, CO2 is harmless, but breathing in too much can compromise our immune system and negatively impact physical well-being. Investing in a portable air quality sensor that can measure a room or building’s CO2 concentration in a room or building is a good place to start.
• Use fans (weather permitting). Improved ventilation is always an important prevention strategy. Strategically and safely placed fans in windows work wonders to help circulate air during nice weather, and overhead fans are another good option when it’s too cold to open windows.

SMACNA Greater Chicago, in partnership with Local Union 73 and Local Union 265, launched the Breathe Easy Illinois clean air campaign earlier this year. These trained HVAC professionals are among the most knowledgeable in the industry on issues relating to humidity control, filtration, ventilation and more. For a more robust solution, or to contact a healthy air expert, visit BreatheEasyIllinois.com.