Indoor air quality (also known as IAQ) has become a major public health concern. It is essential for our comfort and general health. Indeed, many undesirable substances are concentrated in our homes, which are often insufficiently ventilated. So, does this mean that air conditioning is an effective solution for improving indoor air quality?
What are the commonest pollutants in indoor air?
Usually, the following substances can trigger respiratory allergies and more serious diseases.
- Damp, which encourages the growth of mould.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) which causes headaches and breathing difficulties.
- Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs: benzene, formaldehyde, etc) are produced by the various materials used in a dwelling (carpets, paint, glue, etc), furniture, cleaning and decoration products and tobacco.
They can cause allergies, rhinitis and even cancers. We spend 80% of our time indoors, and an adult breathes 12,000 litres of air and a child 24,000 litres of air per day; this shows how important indoor air quality is!
How can air quality be improved?
- Regular airing of enclosed spaces is a good habit, which helps to renew indoor air and reduce concentrations of pollutants
- Have your ventilation, air conditioning and heating equipment regularly serviced by a professional
- Clean the air vents regularly
- Check that air inlets and outlets are not obstructed
- Do not smoke in the house
- Watch for signs of dampness to prevent growth of mould, and always air out after a shower or bath
- Avoid excessive use of cleaning products and/or use organic cleaning products
- Ventilate even more when purchasing new furniture and during DIY activities that require the use of glue, wax, paint etc.
- Opt for an air-conditioning/heating unit with quality filtration
How can air conditioning improve air quality?
If equipped with quality filtration, your air conditioner can “clean” the indoor air by filtering out dust, pollen, odours, cigarette smoke and other pollutants.
In addition, it will prevent reproduction of bacteria, viruses and microbes and thus ensure a constant supply of clean air.
If it is equipped with an ioniser, filtration performance will be increased and the air quality improved by addition of negative ions.
To maintain good air quality, the air conditioner’s filtration system must be cleaned regularly (at least once a year) and thoroughly by a professional.
Which product should I choose?
Indoor air contains positively and negatively charged particles. These are known as positive and negative ions. Negative ions are beneficial for our well-being and improve our mood and energy levels and the quality of our sleep. They make us feel peaceful and at ease. On the other hand,positive ions in the air tend to make us feel stressed, tired and tense.
Airwell has created the Harmonia solution, an air conditioner with a filtration system and ioniser. This system helps to reproduce beneficial conditions inside our home. In addition, the Harmonia reversible air conditioner provides three levels of filtration:
- A pre-filtering system that traps most dust
- An inert electrostatic filter that stops fine dust and other particles
- An activated-carbon deodorising filter, which removes odours, grease and smoke
