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Allergy season is in full swing, and for many that means avoiding the outdoors at all costs; but did you know that the air indoors can actually be more of an irritant to you and your lungs than the air outdoors? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the quality of the air indoors can actually be more severely polluted than the air outside. This is due to a multitude of reasons but it mainly comes down to ventilation or lack thereof. Without proper ventilation and air flow to dilute the harmful particles and gases, these pollutants can build up over time inside your home. Given that studies have shown most people spend 90% of their time indoors, this can pose a serious threat to your health.

Pollution sources that release gases or particles are the main cause of poor indoor air quality. These sources can come from either inside sources (such as fuel-burning appliances, building materials, cleaning products, central heating and cooling devices, high moisture, etc.) or from outside sources (mold, pollen, emissions, pesticides, radon, etc.). If exposed to high quantities of these pollutants, suffering from short term and/or long-term effects to your health are a possibility. The time it takes to experience adverse health effects from poor indoor air varies but can appear soon after exposure or even years later.

Your heating, air conditioning and the ductwork that carries and recycles air between rooms make up the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system for your home. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy suggests that your HVAC system accounts for about half of the energy consumption in your home [source: DOE]. For those with electric heating and air conditioning, that’s half your home’s electric bill, too.