Watch Now
KGG Training Director and Certified Indoor Air Environmentalist, Rob Ambrosetti, discusses clean air control strategies.
Research shows that air quality has a significant impact on our health, our homes and our environment. The possible effects of poor indoor air quality are varied, and can range from damaged furniture and home structures to an increased risk for serious health diseases and concerns.
Source Control
What makes indoor air pollution scary is that there are so many different factors that contribute to pollution, often unbeknownst to occupants.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most sources of pollution stem from one of the following categories: Outdoor Sources, Building Equipment, Components / Furnishings and other Potential Indoor Sources. Within each of these categories are more sub-categories!
That often seems overwhelming to customers. So, to better help customers as they start the journey in improving indoor air quality for their home and the people in it, let's take a look at specific sources within each of these categories.
- Building Equipment - Most buildings have HVAC equipment which can produce pollution as a result of mold growth, lackluster ventilation and dust. Building materials like flooring or adhesives can also contribute to indoor pollution. Even regular office equipment, such as the foam in office chairs, can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) further polluting the air.
- Components/Furnishings - Along similar lines, mold growth as well as water-damaged materials and emissions from new furniture or construction can all emit harmful pollutants.
- Potential Indoor Sources - These are factors dependent on a specific space, things like: stored gasoline, personal care products, trash emissions, pesticides, copy/print areas, insect infestation and cleaning materials.
Air Filtration
The first step to achieving and improving indoor air quality starts with filtration. Efficient home air filters provide the primary defense for all indoor space occupants. This is also an easily conveyable point that customers are likely to understand.
As contractors, it's important to highlight that in order for homeowners to achieve exceptional IAQ and reduce their HVAC system's energy costs, it’s critical to choose the best filter for their home and maintenance.
Filtration is key to improve indoor air quality. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve the air we breathe in indoor spaces. The thing is, air filters are often an afterthought for homeowners.
- MERV Ratings - The higher the MERV rating, the more effective the air filter is at trapping all particles and able to trap smaller particles.
- Dust Collection Efficiency - This determines how well an air filter can trap airborne particles when air passes through before recirculating. Not all air filters are created equal, hence the importance of the MERV rating scale.
- Airflow Resistance - Airflow resistance is a measure of a filter’s energy efficiency costs. The higher the MERV rating, the higher the airflow resistance and the more energy the HVAC system fan has to expend to blow air through the filter.
Air Purification
There’s nothing more unpleasant than stepping into the comfort of one's own home and being greeted with red itchy eyes, sneezing, sniffles and unseemly smells. These are all more common customer complaints about indoor air quality. It's crucial to convey the multitude of factors that can contribute to poor indoor air quality. The dust floating in the air, bacon grease from morning brunch, trash that wasn’t taken out, pet hair, chemicals and cleaning products under the sink and even neighbors smoking all negatively impact indoor air quality. These are also factors that air purifiers can help reduce. If people in the home or building suffer from respiratory conditions, asthma, allergies or other health conditions that are exacerbated by poor air quality–purification is the ultimate solution. In the end, always emphasize that home is the only place where one has complete control over the air we breathe–why not keep it clean?
Active Air Purification
- Positive and negative ions encourage particles in the air to gather together making particles larger and easier to filter.
- Dramatically improves the performance of existing filtration systems.
- UV light energy combined with a metallic core purifies the air with pro-active air scrubbers.
- The process produces aerosolized hydrogen peroxide or H2O2.
Ventilation or Dilution
Rather than relying on inconsistent airflow, either from small holes and cracks in the home or open windows and doors only when weather permits, a mechanical ventilation system ensures homes continually have fresh air. In simple terms, a mechanical ventilation system circulates fresh air using the existing ductwork and system fans–a point most customers appreciate. Mechanical ventilation systems allow for a constant flow of fresh, clean outdoor air into every corner of the home. Added benefits include filtration, dehumidification and the capability to condition the outside air.
HRV vs ERV
- If a customer's home struggles with high humidity in the winter, an HRV is the better choice to eliminate excess moisture.
- In the summertime, the use of an HRV help increase the levels of humidity in living spaces.
- If customers live in a hot climate with insufferable summers, an ERV will perform better.
- At the most basic level, both ERV and HRV system will lighten the load on the cooling and heating system, saving customer's money in the long-run.
Humidity Control
Relative humidity measures the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the total possible amount of air moisture. For example, when relative humidity reaches 100%, the air is unable to hold any more water vapor. The ideal humidity range for indoor spaces is between 40 to 60%.
Temperature control is important for living comfortably, but it’s the humidity level in homes and buildings that ultimately decides the comfort and health of the air we breathe.
- Dehumidifiers - Air conditioners help by pulling excess humidity and heat out of the home, but only to a certain degree. Having a whole-home dehumidifier will help remove moisture before it even re-circulates through the air, allow the HVAC system to run easier and longer.
- Humidifiers - Heating systems will make cold air, which is already dry, even drier. Having a whole-home or whole-building humidifier helps add the perfect level of moisture back into the air, reducing the impact of dry air.