Here in Georgia, we’ve experienced an uptick in the amount of days where the air quality has been bad to downright unbreathable. Wildfire smoke from wildfires in Canada managed to reach homes here, prompting advisories that people should refrain from outdoor activities.
When wildfire smoke infiltrates our area, portable air filters can only do so much. Let’s look at some indoor air quality services that are available to you. These can help combat not only wildfire smoke but pollutants that are in the air 365 days a year.
The Air Quality Index (AQI)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) to let people know how clean or polluted the outside air is on a daily basis. Georgia has experienced several days where the AQI was at unhealthy levels due to high concentrations of smoke-induced fine particulate matter.
When the AQI is in the unhealthy, very unhealthy, and hazardous levels, the general public are advised to stay inside and refrain from exercising outdoors. However, smoke and particulate matter can still get into your home even when all the doors and windows are shut.
Why Is Fine Particulate Matter So Harmful?
Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), is a mixture of tiny airborne particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. The 2.5 comes from the fact that they’re smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. That’s about 50 times smaller than a grain of sand! These particles represent the main pollutant emitted from wildfire smoke
You may be thinking you can get by with a portable air filter and maybe even wearing an N95 mask or respirator inside when wildfire smoke is present. However, PM2.5 is present even when wildfires aren’t burning. They are also emitted directly by vehicles and industrial facilities, or formed indirectly as a result of chemical reactions among other pollutants.
Whole House Solutions
Portable air filters can only filter the air of the room they’re placed in. Depending on how much square footage it can handle, you might need multiple filters for one room in addition to an air filter in each room of your home. Not only is that an expensive upfront purchase, but the cost of replacing the air filters will add up quickly as well.
Portable air filters that you can buy online or at hardware stores just aren’t adequate. You’d need at least one unit per room which can add up quickly while not providing the level of air purification you need. That’s why we offer whole house solutions to indoor air quality problems.
We install devices such as air purifiers and air filtration systems alongside your existing HVAC system. That way, they work to clean the air that circulates through your entire home from all manner of contaminants.
Wildfire smoke isn’t always present but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other pollutants in our area. And your home’s air quality issues are unique—you need the proper combination of filters or purifiers to ensure that you’re properly treating the home. You can count on us to properly assess your air quality and to prescribe the right solution.
Contact the team at American Comfort Heating and Cooling to schedule indoor air quality services in Winder, GA. Bringing Comfort to America, One Home at a Time.
