Why Is Everyone Talking About Indoor Air Quality?

Improving the overall indoor air quality of your home or business continues to be a water cooler topic. The kids always sneeze, the house always seems dusty. Why are you so rough? A familiar sound?

To be honest, the solution is simple, but without help it won't. The first thing to do is to perform a simple indoor air quality assessment. Just follow the next few questions and you can do it. Alternatively, either a local heating or cooling company can perform a free evaluation. Make sure that it is related to the quality of the indoor air. Some people are now known as indoor air quality consultants or IAQs. Here are some basic questions:

1. Do you notice any symptoms or symptoms when you are in a particular room or floor of the house? Examples include sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath, runny nose, and eyes.

2. Are there smokers at home?

3. Do you have pets? What kind?

4. Do you have allergies or asthma?

5. What type of air conditioning systems are there?

6. What kind of home filtration system, if any?

7. Is a dehumidifier running somewhere in the house?

8. Do you move the humidifier somewhere in the house?

9. Are there any signs of mold?

10. Will windows condense during winter?

So here are some simple suggestions for improving the problem.

1. Check and replace the air filter at least every 3 months and clean all the air outlets in the house at least once a year. This is so simple, but people don't seem to follow it. If the filter is covered with dust or dust, there is no way for the air to properly circulate the new dust or dust, and the filter will begin to clog immediately.

Explanation of EPA home filters:

“Flat or panel air filters with a MERV of 1 to 4 are commonly used in residential furnaces and air conditioners. In most cases, such filters accumulate HVAC on surfaces such as fan motors. A heating or cooling coil that is used to protect equipment, not for the direct quality of indoor air.

Pleated or extended surface filter

A medium efficiency filter with a MERV between 5 and 13 is quite efficient at removing large particles from small particles. Filters with a MERV between 7 and 13 are almost as effective as true HEPA filters in controlling most airborne particles. Medium-efficiency air filters are generally less expensive than HEPA filters and have lower airflow resistance, resulting in quieter HVAC fan operation and higher airflow speed than HEPA filters. "

There are also some additional filters, but more than that, you will need to check out depending on the situation. If you are worried about allergies or dust, an air duct cleaner with an ultraviolet light can solve the problem. They are known to kill mold, bacteria and viruses, and bulbs usually last about 2 years. A good filter and UV light is great, but it needs to be maintained properly.

2. Let's talk about furnaces and air conditioners. How old are they? If you have a system that was 15-20 years old, it may be time to upgrade. The blower fan may not be circulating air at maximum capacity. The condenser may not be cooled to its original position. Purchasing a new high-efficiency furnace will immediately increase comfort levels and air quality because the blower will no longer struggle and air will be properly circulated and filtered.

3. The Energy Recovery Ventilator [ERV] replaces old room air with the same amount of outside air. It retains the heat and humidity of the exchanged air in winter, but pre-treats and dehumidifies the incoming air in summer, so you can stay comfortable all year round in your home or office. If you have a smoker at home, is this the best way to eliminate harmful toxins in the air? [ERV] is also an excellent tool to remove condensation, mold and allergens, reduce radon particles and improve the odor of homes and offices.

4. Whole house humidifiers-If you are experiencing dry air and skin during the winter, you are not alone. The 5 gallon little elephant vaporizer will spit out the mist into the bedroom while you sleep, so it might help a little. Well, instead of leaving the whole house selfish, bypass humidifiers usually trick all of your family and employees. It is easy to install and starts by dispersing just 7-12 gallons of water per day without having to refill another vaporizer. They also work amazingly against static electricity.

5. Whole house dehumidifiers-Commercial solutions like these should not be necessary unless you live in a bad place or under a flood table, but sometimes they can help. This may be your best bet if you are tired of constantly draining your portable underground system. A basic house-wide dehumidifier takes four times as much water as a typical dehumidifier, saving energy and filtering air.

6. For molding, some of the above solutions may help, but most are airborne. If you can see mold building up in your basement or bathroom, we recommend that you contact a mold mitigation specialist for evaluation. Leaving the mold can cause a lot of damage. Some damage is not visible because it is behind a drywall or siding.

All homes and all concerns vary, but in the above article, you need to pay attention to at least whether you need to worry about indoor air quality. If in doubt, or if you want to get a second opinion, you can always call a local indoor air quality specialist.