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INDOOR
AIR QUALITY
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In a world where smog, haze and ozone alerts are as common as gridlock, it's nice to know you can always come inside to catch a breath of fresh air.
Or
can you?
Did you know that most people spend more than 90% of their time indoors,
and that 50% of all illnesses are either caused by, or aggravated by
poor indoor air quality (IAQ)?
Worse yet, studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
have shown that your exposure to air pollutants can be more than 100
times higher indoors than outdoors.
Is that serious? Actually, yes. Exposure to dust mites, animal dander,
cat saliva, mold and the like, cause about 200,000 emergency room visits
a year for asthma patients. Even worse, radon, a highly carcinogenic
gas emitted from the soil, is the second leading cause of lung cancer
in the United States. In the workplace, poor air quality can cause headaches,
nausea, lethargy, increased absenteeism and serious illness. Factories,
office buildings, homes, restaurants, movie theatres...none are immune
to indoor air pollution.
Feeling
Out Of Sorts? It Could Be Something In The Air
Thankfully, however, there are things you can do to help alleviate
potential IAQ concerns. If you're experiencing headaches, itchy eyes,
a runny nose or a persistent cough, you might have a cold. Then again,
you could be suffering the effects of poor indoor air quality. Poor
indoor air quality can lead to significant health problems, so you might
want to check with your family physician.
Remember, indoor air pollution is nothing to sneeze at. Taking 20,000
breaths everyday, we breathe in up to 200 million particles. Over 40
million people suffer from allergies and asthma. The quality of your
indoor air could be the reason you are not feeling well.
When It Comes To Clearing The Air, Prevention Is The Best Medicine
It would be convenient to point at one single culprit in the battle
against indoor air quality, but it is not that simple. Truth is, there
are so many potential sources that it is impossible to devise a blanket
solution. Chemicals in carpets, household cleaners, furniture and building
materials all contribute to poor indoor air quality. Damp basements,
and other areas where standing water is prevalent, can also lead to
potential indoor air quality concerns.
Can't Eliminate? Then Ventilate
Years ago, indoor air quality wasn't much of an issue. You could
throw open the window of your office to bring in outdoor air. But, in
an effort to build tighter, more energy-efficient buildings, open windows
all but disappeared from the architectural scene. In recent years, offices
and homes are being built tighter, making ventilation and the concentration
of pollutants inside a concern.
To achieve proper air circulation, open doors and windows, particularly
when you are using cleaning agents, and operate any exhaust fans your
home may have. Another way to increase ventilation and dilute pollutants
is through the use of an outdoor air connection or products such as
heat recovery ventilators (HRV's) and energy recovery ventilators (ERV's).
Cleaning Is Essential
Although ventilation helps to reduce indoor air pollutants, it is
not a "cure all". To further reduce concentration levels,
you should make a habit of cleaning your living spaces frequently by
washing your bedding in hot water (at least 130°F to kill dust mites)
and vacuuming and dusting to remove surface dust. Alas, while these
practices are effective, not all particles can be eliminated through
these methods alone. Some particles are so small, they may escape through
the vacuum, or never land on a surface.
Products such as electronic air cleaners (EACs) or high-efficiency air
filters can aid you in capturing these particles. The majority of these
particles in the air are extremely small and cannot be captured by (often
referred to as "throwaway") air filters. These minute particles,
if not trapped, can slip by your body's defenses and get lodged in your
lungs.
The Role of Home Comfort In Improving Indoor Air Quality
Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) is
one of the best tools in providing good indoor air quality. It can provide
a major portion of the ventilation for your home. Signs of poor ventilation
include moisture condensation on windows or walls and smelly or stuffy
air. In other words, if on Thursday you can still smell the fish you
cooked on Sunday, you might have a ventilation problem. This is an important
reason why you should have your home comfort system inspected regularly
by a qualified service technician. That way, you'll know your equipment
is functioning properly. When you are working to improve indoor air
quality, it's important to consult your HVAC dealer to make sure your
home comfort system is designed properly as a complete and compatible
system. It's not always as simple as adding another component.
Products That Can Help You Breathe A Little Easier
Merz carries a wide variety of indoor air quality poducts designed
to make your home more comfortable. At a minimum, every home comfort
system should provide humidity control, high-efficiency air cleaning
and a controlled source of outdoor air for ventilation.
If you are particularly sensitive to your indoor environment due to
severe asthma or allergies, you may want to upgrade your system for
increased comfort levels and even better IAQ. This can be done by adding
components such as electronic air cleaners, air purifiers, heat recovery
ventilators and energy recovery ventilators.
DETECTION
Carbon monoxide detectors provide constant monitoring of your indoor
air to detect unsafe levels of carbon monoxide. In addition to having
carbon monoxide detectors, it is strongly recommended that you have
fuel-burning appliances (such as gas clothes dryers and furnaces) and
venting systems maintained on a regular basis to eliminate potential
carbon monoxide-related dangers that they may pose. Choose a high quality
detector for more effective detection.
PURIFICATION
Air purifiers inhibit the growth of biological organisms that may
be present in your home. These include products such as ultraviolet
lights and microbiocide treated air filters. Odor removal can be accomplished
through the use of charcoal activated air filters.
VENTILATION
Heat recovery ventilators (HRV's) and energy recovery ventilators
(ERV's) bring fresh air into your house and exhaust stale air out. HRV's
conserve energy from indoor conditioned air, and transfer it to the
outdoor air as it's brought in your home to provide adequate ventilation.
ERV's provide the additional benefit of maintaining desired humidity
levels to help keep you comfortable.
FILTRATION
Electronic air cleaners (EAC's) and high-efficiency air filters
help clean the air and provide respiratory relief by removing dust,
dirt and pollen. They are designed to trap even microscopic particles,
so cleaner air is circulated back into your home.
HUMIDIFICATION
Humidifiers add moisture to every room in your home to soften harsh,
dry air. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that the relative humidity in your home
should be between 30-60 % to minimize the growth of bacterial and biological
organisms. Using a humidifier can help you to maintain this standard,
and help you stay comfortable at lower thermostat levels.
Humidity controls adjust the relative humidity inside your home without
affecting room temperature. Proper humidity levels will make your home
feel more comfortable and can provide better energy efficiency.
Merz IAQ, LLC is a subsidiary of Merz Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Merz IAQ focuses solely on residential and commercial indoor air quality and related matters. Merz IAQ, LLC is certified in m old inspection, receiving its accreditation from the National Association of Mold Professionals (NAMP) You may visit their websites at www.moldpro.org.
American Institute of Respiratory Education (AIRE) - Indoor Air Science