When most homeowners think about air pollution, they picture smog-filled skies or busy roads — but the truth is, the air inside your home could be up to 5 times more polluted than the air outside.
Because homes are sealed tight for energy efficiency, pollutants that enter — or are created inside — have nowhere to go. Over time, they build up, creating a hidden threat to your family’s health.
Top Contributors to Poor Indoor Air Quality
1️⃣ Pets & Pet Dander
Even the cleanest pets shed hair and microscopic dander, which floats through the air and settles on furniture, floors, and even in your HVAC system. Over time, these particles build up, triggering allergies and respiratory issues — especially for sensitive family members.
2️⃣ Mold & Moisture Issues
Bathrooms, basements, and kitchens are common breeding grounds for mold spores, especially in homes with poor ventilation or past water damage. Mold releases airborne spores that can cause everything from mild allergies to more serious respiratory conditions if left unchecked.
3️⃣ Everyday Household Dust
No matter how clean you keep your home, dust accumulates — made up of skin cells, fabric fibers, pollen, and even tiny insect parts. It’s not just unpleasant — dust mites feed on it, and their waste is a major indoor allergen.
4️⃣ Cooking Smoke & Grease Particles
Whether you’re frying, grilling, or baking, cooking releases fine particles and grease aerosols into the air. Without proper ventilation or filtration, these particles stick to surfaces, build up over time, and contribute to poor air quality.
5️⃣ Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs come from products we use every day:
- Paints & varnishes
- Air fresheners & scented candles
- Cleaning products
- New carpets, furniture, & plastics
These chemicals off-gas into your home’s air, and prolonged exposure can contribute to headaches, respiratory irritation, and long-term health risks.
6️⃣ Outdoor Pollution Tracked Indoors
If you live near busy roads or industrial areas, vehicle emissions and fine particulate matter can get tracked in on shoes, clothes, and pets. Once inside, they circulate through your home’s air supply.
7️⃣ Inadequate Ventilation
Many modern homes are built air-tight, which is great for energy savings — but bad for air circulation. Without proper ventilation, stale air, humidity, and pollutants get trapped indoors, with nowhere to go.
How Poor Air Quality Impacts Health
Long-term exposure to these contaminants can trigger:
- Asthma attacks & allergy flare-ups
- Chronic coughing & respiratory irritation
- Headaches, fatigue & poor sleep
- Increased susceptibility to colds & infections
- Worsening of pre-existing conditions like COPD
Solutions for Healthier Indoor Air
✅ MERV 11 Filter – Empower’s Best Line of Defense
The MERV 11 air filter, offered by Empower Home Comfort, is your home’s best defense against indoor pollutants. Unlike standard filters that only capture larger particles, MERV 11 filters trap:
✔ Pet dander & hair
✔ Mold spores & pollen
✔ Fine dust & allergens
✔ Smoke particles & cooking aerosols
✔ Certain bacteria & viruses
This high-efficiency filter works directly with your HVAC system, continuously removing pollutants before they circulate throughout your home, creating cleaner, healthier air for your entire family.
Additional Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
✅ Control Humidity – Use dehumidifiers in damp areas to discourage mold growth.
✅ Ventilation Upgrades – Consider adding an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) or ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) to bring in fresh outdoor air without losing energy efficiency.
✅ Whole-Home Air Purifiers – For maximum protection, systems like the iWave Air Purifier can actively neutralize airborne particles, odors, and pathogens.
✅ UV Lights – Installed inside your HVAC system, UV-C lights sterilize air as it passes through your ductwork, helping to kill bacteria, viruses, and mold spores.
✅ Regular HVAC Maintenance – Annual inspections & filter changes help your system run clean, keeping pollutants from building up.
