Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)


Indoor Air Quality

EPA studies show that even in the smoggiest cities, the air inside most modern homes is usually at least ten times more polluted than the air outside.

How can this be? There are many reasons, some of which were discovered only recently. They include invisible assassins like radon and CO2, as well as gas-emitting chemicals like formaldehyde used in making modern carpeting, drapery, household cleaners, furniture and building materials. There are also common airborne pollutants such as pollen, viruses, dust and dust mites and damp areas where standing water can breed mold, mildew and other microbes.

Much of this problem is attributed to the way modern homes are built—for purposes of energy efficiency, and to be as air-tight as possible. The consequence is that stale air, laced with odors, chemicals, irritants – even miniscule insects – often becomes trapped in modern homes, where it circulates over and over. This can lead to eye irritation, sinus congestion, sneezing, runny nose, stuffiness, colds, flu, headaches, dizziness, outbreaks of allergies and asthma, sore throats, and various other respiratory ailments.

So serious and prevalent is this issue that environmentalists have coined a new term for it—IAQ or Indoor Air Quality. Today’s homeowners need to become more aware of the importance of IAQ and what they can do about it.

Featured Products

We have gone into detail about many different types of Indoor Air Quality products below; but, there are several products on the market today that we have been found to be exceptional.

Trane CleanEffects Clean Air System

Trane Clean Effects Air Cleaner

Trane Clean Effects Air Cleaner

Zehnder Comfosystem

Zehnder - Simply Fresh Air

Zehnder – Simply Fresh Air

Indoor Air Quality Products

  • Media Air Cleaners
  • Electronic Air Cleaners
  • HEPA Air Cleaner
  • Dehumidification Systems
  • Bypass Humidifier
  • Steam Humidifier
  • Ultraviolet Treatment Systems

Air Cleaners -(Media Air Cleaners, Electronic Air Cleaners & HEPA Air Cleaner)

FACT: Air pollution is a serious problem — especially inside your home! The EPA has named indoor air pollution as one of the top 5 environmental risks to public health. The EPA also reports that indoor air can be up to one hundred times more polluted than the air outside. One hundred times!

Don’t just treat the symptoms — remove the problems from the air in every room of your house — from your bedroom to your basement with an air cleaning system.

What is a Whole-Home Air Cleaner?

There are many types of air cleaners (Media Air Cleaners, Electronic Air Cleaners & HEPA Air Cleaner) on the market today. Whole-Home Air Cleaners make your air as clean as possible by removing particulates from your air, allowing you to breathe healthier air — important to those with allergies and asthma and for those who want the cleanest air possible for themselves and their family. An Air Cleaner installed by your heating and cooling contractor, can help rid your home of dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, bacteria and viruses, smoke and more!

How Does It Work?

Air Cleaners are installed as part of your home’s central heating and cooling system — completely out of your way and out-of-sight. That means each and every time your system runs, the air in your home is filtered through a state-of-the-art filter media removing potentially harmful contaminants from every room of your home.

The resulting clean air is then distributed via your heating and cooling system’s ductwork to your entire home. Best yet, the system is easy to maintain with infrequent maintenance only required every 1-2 years unlike portable units that require monthly care or standard filters that need cleaning every 1-3 months.

Turn your central heating and cooling system into a whole-house air cleaner!

“Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk.”

Why do you need whole-house air cleaning? Consider this:

  • Each person inhales over 3,500 gallons of air each day. Children inhale more particles for their size than adolescents or adults.
  • Polluted air causes 94% of all respiratory problems.
  • More than 31 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, about 1/3 are children under 18.
  • About 40,000 dust mites, a common household allergen, can live in one ounce of dust.
  • An estimated 10-15% of the entire population may be allergic to cat or dog dander.
  • A person sheds up to 700,000 skin flakes per day.

The Perfect Questions to Ask

When selecting an air cleaner, many people consider the Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV) — a system used by many manufacturers in their claims. Media Air Cleaners are rated MERV 10 at 1200 cfm (the typical airflow for an average home). But we suggest that you consider the following questions to determine the best air cleaner for you:

  • Is it a whole-home solution? It should clean the air in the entire house, not just a room or section of your home.
  • Is there long service life? Who enjoys changing the filter media every month or even every couple of months? The best air cleaner should require maintenance only once a year.
  • Will it enhance equipment life? The best air cleaner should permanently trap the dirt that causes heating and air-conditioning units to wear prematurely.
  • What about quality? The best air cleaner should be built to last, providing the same high performance for years. One mark of quality is the seal around the door. It should have broad, thick seals to minimize air leakage.
  • Is it invisible and silent? The best air cleaner should be invisible, not another piece of furniture in a room. It should operate silently, not make distracting noises.

Whole House Humidifier (Bypass Humidifier & Steam Humidifier)

Protect your family and your home from the unhealthy and damaging effects of over-dry air. Dry nose, cracked, itchy skin, and sore throats. Aggravated allergy and asthma symptoms. Painful static shocks. Chipping paint and plaster. Splitting or cracked wood floors, furniture, trim and molding. Sound familiar? Why go through another season with these problems when there is a solution—a Whole-Home Humidifier.

Turning your temperature up in the wintertime will keep you warm but won’t increase your home’s humidity level. Daily activities such as showering, cooking and doing laundry don’t produce enough moisture to keep your home’s air from being too dry. According to medical experts, many viruses thrive in low humidity increasing the likelihood of catching colds, flu and upper respiratory ailments. The American Society of Otolaryngology even reports that it is important to prevent an overly dry environment because it makes people more susceptible to infection.

A Whole-Home Humidifier installed by your heating and cooling professional, will deliver the perfect amount of moisture to your air making you feel more comfortable at lower thermostat settings. In fact, the EPA states that you can save up to 4% on your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat! Increase your family’s level of comfort and protect your valuable furnishings by adding just the right amount of moisture with a Whole-House Humidifier.

“If too dry an environment is your problem, consider a humidifier. Clues like awakening with a sore throat, dryness in your nose, or even a nose bleed are signs of too little humidity.”

How It Works

A Whole-House Humidifier is installed directly to your central new or existing heating and cooling system. Humidity is introduced into your home’s air in the form of water vapor, which prevents minerals from entering the air in your home and potentially into your lungs. Water is supplied to the distribution tray, allowing it to flow evenly across the Water Panel®. The resulting humidified air is then distributed via your heating and cooling system ductwork throughout your home.

Whole House Dehumidifiers

Air conditioning alone can’t satisfy your home’s humidity requirements. Your air conditioning system is designed to control temperature, not humidity, and only removes humidity as a byproduct of cooling. During the spring and fall seasons when it’s still cool outside but damp inside, your air conditioning isn’t running and your house is uncomfortable — you need a Whole-Home Dehumidifier.

How Does It Work?

Installed as part of your home’s heating and cooling system, Central dehumidifiers pull air from every room in your home through the return ducts. It removes the moisture and then sends dry air back throughout your home. It works in conjunction with your air conditioner to efficiently balance the humidity levels in your home, but can also work independently on days when you don’t need the air conditioner.

A Whole-House Dehumidifier works equally well in new or existing homes, and is truly the complete solution for your home’s excess indoor humidity problems.

Why Do I Need a Whole-House Dehumidifier?

Have you ever experienced any of the following uncomfortable and/or unhealthy conditions:

  • Do you have trouble sleeping at night due to clammy skin or stuffiness in the air?
  • Have you ever reduced the temperature setting because you’re uncomfortable with the stuffy feeling?
  • Have your floors or other surfaces ever felt sticky or “sweaty”?
  • Are you concerned with mold and mildew growth in your home?
  • Do you have musty odors or smells in any area of your home?
  • Do you have condensation on your water pipes?
  • Have you seen wet stains on walls or ceilings?
  • Do you or a family member have allergies (over-moist air can encourage the growth of mold, bacteria, and dust mites—three commonly known household allergens).

Experiencing any of the above conditions can make sleeping and even daily activities miserable — plus some conditions can be hazardous to your family’s health or your home’s furnishings.

Ultraviolet Treatment Systems

Breathe cleaner air with a Ultraviolet Treatment System. If you want improved air quality in your home, install a UV-C Treatment System to work alongside your central heating and cooling system. Your total home comfort solution will make the air in your home cleaner and comfortable for you and your family. By using UV-C lamps, particles and germs are destroyed and prevented from being re-circulated to the air in your home. For cleaner air…trust an Ultraviolet Treatment System.

When you consider all the things you breathe each day in your home, it’s worth thinking about a Ultraviolet Treatment System. Gain peace-of-mind for your family by having one installed, which can greatly improve your home’s indoor air quality and the air you breathe every day.

  • Highly Efficient – Kills mold spores and certain live, airborne bacteria passing by the lamp.
  • Easy Lamp Replacement – LED light indicates lamp replacement is required and snap-in lamp design makes replacement easy.
  • Safe Design – Sealed unit design prevents accidental contact with UV rays.
  • Long Lamp Life – Advanced technology optimizes lamp life up to five years.

TJ’s Plumbing and Heating can help provide a solution for you and your family’s indoor air quality.  CONTACT US TODAY!