Indoor air pollutants can be the cause of numerous health-related problems. Indoor air pollutants can cause you to suffer from flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and respiratory irritation. They can also exacerbate existing illnesses such as allergies and asthma. Recent statistics show that more than 40 million people suffer from asthma and allergies. Reducing the amount of pollutants in the air is the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. Frequent dusting and vacuuming will reduce the amount of dust and dust mites present in your home. However, not all airborne particles can be eliminated, said Robyn Benson, of Blanton’s Heating & Air of Fayetteville, NC. Filtration devices can eliminate particles that are too small to be captured by a vacuum. Some filtration devices include UV light units, air filters, energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs), and electronic air cleaners. UV light units help decompose contaminants such as bacteria, chemicals, dust mites, animal dander, cat saliva, and mold through a process called photolysis oxidation. When the UV lights are installed in the ductwork of your central air and heat system, they can eliminate most of the organisms in the treated area. Activated carbon and microbiocide treated filters can also purify your home’s air. Both the carbon and the microbiocide treated filters remove odor and kill bacteria, but the carbon filters are more adept at removing odor, and the microbiocide filters trap bacteria as the air is pulled through, which inhibits biological contaminants from growing. The efficiency of the air filter should be a top consideration. Efficiency is measured in terms of the particle size an air filter can capture. The higher the efficiency, the more effective it will be. Look for the filter’s MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) number, a new industry standard that rates filters based on their performance. Residential filters typically have a MERV range of 1-8. Higher ratings indicate more efficient filters. The energy recovery ventilators (ERV) and heat recovery ventilator (HRV) bring fresh air into the home and exhaust stale air out. The HRV conserves energy from indoor conditioned air, and transfers it to the outdoor air as it is brought into the home to provide ventilation. The ERV does the same thing, but it also maintains the desired humidity levels to keep the house comfortable. Electronic air cleaners clean the air by taking recirculated air and passing it through a pre-filter that traps the large pollutants. Then, ionizing wires give a positive electrical charge to remaining particles. The particles are collected by a negatively charged collecting section. Pollutants pass through an optional carbon filter that absorbs unwanted odors. To find out more about how to improve your indoor air quality or about purchasing an air filter, ERV, HRV, UV light unit, or electronic air cleaner, call Blanton’s Heating & A/C at (910)867-5309. Blanton’s Heating & A/C has been providing service in Fayetteville and surrounding area for over 57 years.