The Importance of Indoor Air Quality During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Most of us have suffered in some way or another through the difficulties and losses of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all ready for a return to some kind of normal. But we must also remain vigilant about steps we can take to minimize our exposure to the virus and to improve our overall health. Since we spend so much time indoors, whether at home or at the office, we are subject to the air quality of those indoor environments.

What is the importance of maintaining clean air for our overall health? How does Covid spread indoors? Can improving our indoor air quality lower our risk of contracting Covid-19? What are the best next steps to improve overall indoor air quality?

Since the vast majority of Covid-19 transmissions occur through close interactions with the respiratory emissions of an infected individual to an uninfected person; asking how does Covid spread indoors is at the top of many people’s concerns. Any steps that we can take personally and publicly to minimize airborne transmission are vitally important. Masks and social distancing have been the most effective methods of preventing the spread of Covid-19. However, there are other significant steps that can be taken as well.

Heeding extra measures to improve the indoor air quality of our homes, offices and businesses is vital to preventing avoidable infection and spread. This Covid-19 pandemic has increased our awareness of the importance of the quality of the indoor air that we breathe. We breathe indoor air about 90% of the time. Whether there is proper ventilation, clean and well maintained heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, humidity, air purifiers or other methods, we must focus on the importance of maintaining clean air.

Since we are spending so much of our time indoors, the quality of the indoor air we breathe is a major concern. The Covid-19 pandemic has served as a wake up call for us to make sure we are testing the quality of our indoor air in our homes, our office spaces, our businesses and finding ways to improve air flow, ventilation, humidity, and air purification systems to boost our overall indoor air quality.

Testing indoor air quality is a fairly simple process that has been greatly improved through the decades by technological developments and the excellent work of environmental testing labs. Our indoor air can be polluted by not just viruses, bacteria, dust, pollen and mold, but it can contain toxic pollutants from cleaning products, outdoor pollutants like pesticides and other harmful chemicals. It is also possible that toxins can come up through the soil and enter buildings through cracks in the foundation or improper ventilation.

To begin your quest for improved indoor air quality in your home, apartment complex, business offices, or other business, contact a testing Laboratory. Labs have a wide array of tests that will assess what pollutants are in your air and have decades of experience in helping to reduce pollutant levels.

Once you have your property tested and receive a full report of what indoor pollutants you may be dealing with, the next question is how to reduce those pollutants and improve your indoor air quality. Most labs will guide you through a list of potential solution options and will ensure that you get quality humidifiers, air purifiers, ventilation, fans, and other equipment. They will assist you with proper placement of your equipment and will follow other best practices proven to reduce your indoor air pollution.

There are some interesting factors of how humidity levels can lower the risk of transmitting Covid-19. For one, the human immune system functions better at fighting disease. Also, tiny particles like the virus travel slower. To add, the Covid-19 virus breaks down fastest when indoor relative humidity levels are kept between 40-60%.

The Covid-19 pandemic that has enveloped the world has brought many important issues to the forefront of our thinking over the past nearly two years. One of the questions that comes up often for us is how does Covid spread indoors? Our growing awareness has led us to place much greater emphasis on the importance of maintaining clean air, especially in our indoor environments. 

When you are looking to improve your indoor air quality there is no better place to go for expert testing than Torrent Laboratory. Our full-service lab offers a host of advantages including: 

• Highest certifications 
• Fastest possible TAT in the industry
• Unrivaled technical and customer support
• Unparalleled on-time performance
• Impeccable quality 
• Competitive pricing