Five Keys To A Perfectly Comfortable Home: Key #4

Maximize Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

In the first, second and third posts in this series, we discussed how important it is to choose the right home comfort company to repair, replace and maintain your heating and air conditioning system. All of these characteristics, like being informed on what to expect, no-pressure sales tactics, up-front pricing, financial stability, Standards of Excellence and a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, and comprehensive maintenance are important to your comfort level, energy-savings and decision making.

For many families, the most important key to keeping a home comfortable is Indoor Air Quality. That's because the quality of the air in their home impacts allergies, respiratory systems and health directly. Yet many families are confused about what exactly indoor air quality is and what it means to them. Let's start with what IAQ is.

IAQ = The Level of Air Purification Inside A Home

It's easiest to think of Indoor Air Quality like drinking water quality. There are different qualities of drinking water, from kitchen faucet water to filtered water, to the myriad of bottled spring water on the market. And, not all water is drinkable (or potable). For instance, you shouldn't drink bath or shower water, because the quality of the water hasn't been designed and cleaned properly for people to ingest.

You can think of Indoor Air Quality much the same way. Not all air is healthy to breathe without being treated. In fact, indoor air can be far more polluted than outdoor air. Some respiratory ailments that people suffer from daily could even be averted if they were just breathing healthy air inside their home and workplace.

Fortunately air inside the home can be cleaned properly with the right equipment. Here are some of the considerations that could dramatically improve the indoor air quality level of your home.

Air Filtration

Filtering out pollutants is what cleans indoor air and maximizes indoor air quality (read about air filter ratings here). The air cleansing and filtering process can be done in a few ways, most often through the simple one inch air filters placed in your return ducts. Some people use single-room air cleaners or 'ionizers' that plug into an outlet and claim to clean the air of smoke and odors. Unfortunately, many of these off-the-shelf products have proven to be ineffective by leading consumer ratings magazines, and can even emit potentially harmful ozone. Another more viable option is what we call whole-home air filtration, which involves installing a larger, high-efficiency air filter at the furnace. These filters are called high-efficiency air filters because they do the best job of maximizing air quality throughout the entire home at a low cost, and usually only need to be replaced annually instead of monthly. They also do not emit ozone, so its a much greener choice. I highly recommend these air filters for anyone wanting to improve their indoor air quality.

Fresh Air Ventilation

As homes become more energy efficient, they become better sealed, which prevents heated and cooled air from escaping. Consequently, less fresh air flows into the house and the air inside stagnates and can smell stale and affect proper humidity levels. Natural ventilation from an open window invites pollutants like dirt, pollen and bacteria into the home. A Fresh Air Ventilator is a product that will draw outside air into your home, then properly filter and regulate its temperature so you have a constant source of clean, fresh air without dramatically increasing energy costs.

Air Flow

There are several times that I have mentioned tips to improve air flow in your home, like ensuring ducts are not blocked by curtains or furniture. I can't understate the importance of this simple tip enough. Inadequate air flow causes extremely poor heating and air conditioning equipment performance, increased energy consumption, and could also lead to improper humidity levels. All this adds up to an uncomfortable home and a serious drain on your wallet. I measure air flow on every visit to a customer's home to help determine if your home comfort system needs changes made, to ensure maximum comfort and efficiency.

Duct Cleaning and Sealing

Conditioned are travels throughout your home via a duct system. Over time, the inside of air ducts can get dirty and cause microbial growth, which can cause respiratory problems. Ducts can be professionally cleaned from the inside to help alleviate these symptoms.

Sealing duct joints and elbows ensures the energy your home comfort system used to condition the air isn't wasted by leaking that conditioned air into walls and attics. Sealing ducts may also help prevent humidification around air leaks and help prevent the creation of microorganisms.

Humidity Control

Humidity Control is really indoor moisture control. Excessive moisture must first be eliminated at its source, whether that means a plumbing repair, patched room or a moisture barrier to prevent groundwater from seeping into your foundation. Wet conditions in your home's interior are a natural breeding ground for toxic microbial growth, a biohazard that can make your house uninhabitable. This is a very serious situation that can lead to severe respiratory problems, allergies, immune system disorders and chronic fatigue. Excessive moisture and even excessive dryness can be easily controlled via an integrated whole-house humidifier or de-humidifier. These products provide safe, clean air and humidity control.

A Word About Carbon Monoxide

Last but most definitely not least, know the dangers of Carbon Monoxide inside your home. This toxic gas is odorless, colorless and extremely dangerous. It is commonly produced in your home during the normal combustion process in furnaces, hot water heaters and gas stoves. If not properly vented, it can cause severe headaches, nausea, vomiting and even death. The ideal way to prevent a hazardous situation and keep your family safe is with properly vented and sealed appliances and heating equipment, as well as a high quality, working Carbon Monoxide detector.

All of these factors add up and determine the quality of comfort in your home. Even if you don't have allergies and respiratory issues now, they could develop under the right bad air quality conditions. Children and the elderly are also very susceptible to polluted indoor air. For an affordable indoor air analysis of your home, schedule an appointment for a System Inspection. As part of our inspection, we provide our Home Health^TM Report Card, a summary of your home's Indoor Air Quality. For more information, visit our Indoor Air Quality section.

Posted: 11/5/2008 8:25:20 AM by Sam