Indoor Air Quality-How Is Yours?

We weatherstrip, insulate and seal our homes to keep the heated or cooled air inside and the unconditioned air outside. It conserves energy and reduces drafts. However, there is a problem that no one has anticipated. It also traps and recycles a variety of pollutants.

Pollutants are all around us. Unless we live in a sterile environment or wear bio-suits, we can never fully get rid of them. Although, it is possible to control and reduce them.

Reasons to reduce/control pollutants in our home:

• improve health
• reduce source of allergies
• make the air fresher and cleaner

There is a need for Indoor Air Quality. An independent study tested the air in 10,000 homes and this is what they found:

• 96% of homes had at least one IAQ issue
• 77% of homes had two or more issues
• 85% of homes had particulate levels that were too high

Topping the list is maintenance of boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners. These products control the movement of air in your home. Every home needs to breath. They can become dirty and out of adjustment. The burners for a boiler or gas furnace need annual cleaning and adjustments. The inside coil of a heat pump or air conditioner also requires annual cleaning. Research shows that annual maintenance and adjustments saves more in utilities than it costs in maintenance.

In the past few years, the hvac industry has begun manufacturing ultraviolet lights for insertion in the duct system. UV light breaks down the DNA of living organisms (mold, bacteria, mildew, viruses, microbial and airborne contaminants) which kills them and prevents their spread and growth.

Commercial buildings are installing UV lamps to save energy, reduce costs and increase the health of their employees.

In the spring and summer months, your air conditioner acts as a dehumidifier (taking moisture from the air as it cools). In the fall and winter months, you may need to introduce humidity into the air. As air is heated, it can hold more moisture so the relative humidity falls. The optimom humidity in your home is 40% to 60% relative humidity. Your air conditioner takes care of this in hot weather, but you need a humidifier during cold weather. Every home needs humidity control.

Humidifiers:

• Comfort - make you feel warmer, reduce static shock
• Health - sooth dry, itchy skin and reduce nose-bleeds and sinus issues
• Protection/Preservation - protect furnishings from damage

Dehumidifiers:

• Comfort - eliminate stuffy air
• Health - reduce allergy and asthma triggers
• Protection/Preservation - prevent damage from mold and mildew

Good air filtration can help keep your coils cleaner and reduce the dust in your home. The wrong filter can make things worse. The best filtration system to use is an electronic air cleaner. Electronic cleaners are very effective and have a very low pressure drop.

There is a need for high efficienct whole-home air cleaners. A clean system uses less energy, breaks down less often and doesn't harbor mold and smells.

Whole-Home Air Cleaners vs. Portable Air Cleaners

Whole-Home Air Cleaners

• 1 unit for entire house
• Installed with the HVAC system
• Once per year maintenance
• Costs Less
• Silent operation
• Invisible (out of your living area)

Portable Air Cleaners

1. 6 rooms = 6 units (a unit will be needed in each room)
2. Intrusive (in your living space)
3. Each unit requires maintenance (frequently)

The only place in the home where the temperature matches the thermostat is at the thermostat.

Do you turn on all the lights in you home with just one light switch? Then why try to control the temperature in every room with one thermostat! Add a thermostat in any area for increased comfort where and when you need it.

• Comfort - eliminate hot/cold spots and direct warm and cool air where and when you want it
• Energy Savings - Stop over-heating and over-cooling
• Convenience - No running up and down the stairs. You can view or change all thermostats from any thermostat