Common Indoor Air Quality Problems and Solutions
AirAdvice IAQ Test - Diagnose the Problem
AirAdvice is an independent testing service used to provide unbiased indoor air quality information for consumers. The AirAdvice IAQ test evaluates your home’s indoor air quality. The test pinpoints air quality problems that can affect you or family’s health, as well as their comfort and safety. Performing the test is easy. Your HVAC professional places an AirAdvice IAQ monitor in your home for a few days so it can measure temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and airborne particles in one-minute cycles.
This data is stored in the monitor until it can be transmitted from the home over the phone lines late at night to AirAdvice via a toll free number. The monitor, which is about the size of a paperback book, is unobtrusive and quiet. It plugs into your existing phone line and requires no new wiring. And it won’t interrupt current phone or Internet connections. Using the results of your AirAdvice test, you and your HVAC professional can work together to select the best solution.
PURIFICATION |
|
Problem: |
Odors and Chemical Vapors |
| Perfumes, cleaning supplies, paints, pet odors, cooking fumes and other airborne contaminants | |
| Small, Respirable Particles and Bioaerosols/Micro-organisms | |
| Pollen, dirt, pet dander, dust mites, bacteria, viruses and mold | |
Solution: |
Air-purification systems attached to the furnace or air handler, where contaminants are removed and destroyed before air is recirculated into the home. |
FILTRATION |
|
Problem: |
Small, Respirable Particles and Bioaerosols/Micro-organisms |
| Pollen, dirt, pet dander, dust mites, bacteria, viruses and mold | |
| Solution: | Air filtration systems combat indoor pollution by capturing even the smallest contaminants and keeping them from recirculating back into the home's air. |
HUMIDITY CONTROL |
|
| Problem: | Too Much Moisture |
| Can make the air feel stuffy and warmer than the actual temperature, and can also promote the growth of mold, mildew, fungi, bacteria and viruses | |
| Too Little Moisture | |
| Can cause dry skin, sore throats and respiratory problems, along with annoying static electricity | |
| Solution: | Dehumidifiers and humidifiers work with the home's heating and cooling system to keep moisture levels balanced in every room. |
VENTILATION |
|
| Problem: | Poor Airflow |
| A common problem in newer homes, which are tightly sealed to conserve energy. Instead of continually moving, indoor air becomes stagnant, and contaminants have no way to escape | |
| Solution: | Ventilation systems replace stale, contaminated indoor air with outdoor air providing the fresh-air feel of an open window, with virtually no heat/energy loss or safety risk. |
ELIMINATION |
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| Problem: | Small, Respirable Bioaerosols/Micro-organisms |
| Pet dander, dust mites, bacteria, viruses, mold and other contaminants that can collect on the air-conditioning coil, reducing system efficiency, and circulate through the home | |
| Solution: | Germicidal lights dramatically reduce concentrations of potentially harmful micro-organisms. |
