Indoor Air Quality

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), your exposure to air pollutants can be up to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors. The American Lung Association estimates that most people spend 90% of their time indoors, so clean indoor air is very important.

Many everyday household items contribute to poor indoor air quality. Compounds found in carpeting, furniture, upholstery and drapery fabric consistently emit gas or fumes. Other sources of pollutants can include, but are not limited to, cleaning agents, paints and personal care products.

Also, newer homes that are tightly sealed for energy efficiency tend to limit air circulation, which can contribute to a build-up of contaminants. Likewise, things like weather stripping and storm doors keep stale air in and fresh air out.

Pollutants are present in most homes, but the classification and concentrations of these contaminants vary. New homes tend to have higher concentrations of chemicals, while older homes may be breeding grounds for mold and mildew.

The effects of pollutants on a person's health can also vary tremendously. Children and the elderly alike will benefit from an air purifier system. Which reduces many sensitivity triggers and irritants.

To determine which system is best for your home, you need to consider the cause, or pollutant source, as well as your sensitivity. Your qualified heating and cooling contrator can help.

Listed below are 10 everyday steps you can take to reduce the pollutants circulating in your home:

1. Store household cleaners, paint solvents and chemical products in tightly sealed containers. If possible, keep them outdoors.
2. Clean and vacuum at least once a week.
3. Regularly wash bed linens and stuffed toys.
4. Keep windows closed when pollen, pollution and humidity levels are high.
5. Make sure your home is properly ventilated. (Modern homes are well insulated and sealed to conserve energy, which means airborne pollutants have no way to escape).
6. Keep humidity levels within a healthy, comfortable range to prevent growth of mold and mildew (25% - 55%).
7. Avoid using scented deodorizers and odor masking air fresheners, which may cause toxic chemicals.
8. Have your HVAC system regularly tuned up and professionally cleaned to make sure it is in good operating condition.
9. Choose furnishings that emit the smallest possible amount of chemical vapors.
10. Do not allow smoking inside your home and make sure all gas appliances are properly vented.

There are five basic strategies for out-smarting indoor air pollution:

Identify the problem
The first step toward better indoor air is to identify the types of pollutants present in the home. The best way to do this is to schedule an in-home air-quality test with your trusted heating and cooling contractor.

Reduce concentrations of particles
Routine cleaning and housekeeping helps reduce indoor air pollutants, but these simple fixes are not cure-alls. Some contaminants are so small that they may escape through the vacuum or never land on a surface.

Reduce or eliminate chemical vapors and odors
Chemical vapors and odors can come from many different sources inside and outside the home. Once inside the home, these potentially toxic pollutants circulate through the ductwork, entering every room and living space.

Ventilate your home
Today's modern homes are well insulated and sealed to conserve energy, which means airborne pollutants have no way to escape. The air purifier system helps remove particles, exchanging stale, recirculated indoor air with fresh, filtered outside air.

Control temperature and humidity
Improper humidity levels and high temperatures can actually increase concentrations of particles and bioaerosols.

We recommend the air purifier system. It cleans the air better than any other single system you can buy.

You may have tried to get rid of odors in your home by spraying air fresheners or lighting candles. The problem with these methods is that they only mask the odors but don't get rid of them. In fact, they may even cause further contamination of the home with chemical ingredients.

Improve ventilation
What causes the lingering odors? Sometimes, poor ventilation in a home causes unpleasant odors. Moisture condensation on walls or windows and stuffy air are signs of poor ventilation. A qualified service technician can inspect your home comfort system to determine if this is indeed the problem, and the technician can also inform you whether or not your equipment is working properly.

Purify the air
Bacteria, dust mites, animal dander, cat saliva and mold may also be roots of your home's odor problem. You can reduce these odor-causing contaminants with a mildew and bacteria eliminator system (a U/V light system) which will inhibit the growth of biological contaminants and sterilize surfaces in the HVAC system. Germicidal lights are designed to work with your home comfort system.

Allergies and asthma are two health problems that can be helped with clean indoor air. When airborne irritants are removed, allergy and asthma sufferers often find relief from their symptoms. Even healthy people who have never suffered from allergies can benefit from clean air. Dust, smoke and other particles float around in the air, causing your drapes and furniture to gather dust. By removing airborne dust particles, you reduce the amount of exposure your respiratory system has to them.

According to studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside your home may be up to five times more polluted than the air outside. For some people, this may mean no more than a runny nose or watery eyes. But for others, particularly children, seniors and those who suffer from respiratory ailments, the effects may be devastating and long lasting.

Reducing the amount of pollutants in the air is the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. Filtration products capture contaminants that can't be removed through vacuuming and regular cleaning. The most popular solutions available include mildew and bacteria eliminator systems (U/V light systems) coupled with high efficiency air cleaner systems or air purifier systems.

UV light units help decompose contaminants, such as bacteria, chemicals, dust mites, animal dander, cat saliva and mold, through a process called photocatalytic oxidation. When the UV lights are installed in the ductwork of your central air and heat system, they can eliminate most of the organisms in the treated area. The efficiency of the air filter is an important consideration. Efficiency is measured in terms of the particle size an air filter can capture. The higher the efficiency, the more effective it will be. Look for the filter's MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) number, a new industry standard that rates filters based on their performance. Residential filters typically have an MERV range of one to twelve.

Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can be the cause of numerous health problems. Medical groups report that as many as half of all illnesses are caused or aggravated by indoor air pollution. Pollutants in your home's air can cause dizziness, headaches and nausea, plus aggravate allergies and asthma.

Clean indoor air benefits everyone, even people who have never suffered from allergies. By removing airborne dust particles from the air, the amount of exposure the respiratory system has to them is greatly reduced.

Particles are any substances measuring less than 100 microns in diameter. The Environmental Protection Agency has found that small particles (less than 2.5 microns) are responsible for the health effects of greatest concern.

Bioaerosols are microscopic organisms that grow and multiply in warm, humid places. Exposure to these organisms can occur in even the most well maintained living environments.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a filtration system, starting with sensitivity to allergens. The more sensitive a person is to allergens, the greater the need for a high efficiency filtration system.

The efficiency of the air filter should be a top consideration. Efficiency is based on the size of the particles captured by an air filter. The higher the efficiency, the more effective it will be. Look for the filter's MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) number, a new industry standard for rating filters based on their performance. Residential filters typically have an MERV range of one to twelve. Higher ratings indicate more efficient filters.

Cost is another major factor—both in terms of the initial purchase price and expense of maintenance and upgrades. Purchasing a filter of reasonably high quality can save you money over the long term. Inexpensive filters may not provide the level of filtration you need and may also require frequent filter replacement.

Among the many filtration systems available are pleated filters, which are constructed of fiberglass or synthetic fibers woven into a more dense material. The pleats are arranged in V-shaped forms to increase the surface area of the filter material without increasing the size of the filter. This increases the particle holding capability.

According the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is up to five times more polluted than outside air. Given the fact that most people spend 90% of their time indoors, the EPA has ranked poor indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental risks.

Pollutants in your home's air can cause poor indoor air quality, which may cause dizziness and headaches, plus aggravate allergies and asthma.