Three Strategies to Cleaner Indoor Air

 

There are three basic ways to handle indoor air pollution and improve the quality of indoor air. (This information was compiled from the US E.P.A and our own experience.)

1.Ventilation Improvements

Most home heating and cooling systems do not bring fresh air into your home…because in cold or hot weather the cost of heating or cooling that air would be prohibitive.

Opening windows and doors, operating window or attic fans will all help. Running bathroom fans and kitchen hoods (if they exhaust outside-many don’t) will also help. You especially want to do this when you are involved in short term activities that generate high concentrations of pollutants— painting, cooking, heating with a kerosene heater, or engaging in maintenance or hobby activities.

To do this in extreme weather (summer or winter) is costly and in most cases properly sized heating and cooling equipment won’t handle the extra load. In that case an “air-to-air” heat exchanger can be installed. These bring in fresh air and exhaust polluted air while allowing the heat or cooking to be exchanged. These work very well and should be used in extreme conditions.

2. Source Control

Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions.

If you use an unvented space heater (gas or oil) to heat part or all of your home follow manufacturers instructions carefully. These release carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particles that have benzopyrene (a known cancer causing substance) attached to them. Unvented oil space heaters also generate acid. This is all drawn into your lungs with various bad effects.

Environmental tobacco smoke is the mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. It is a complex mixture of over 4000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans. Many others are just very strong irritants. Don’t smoke in the house and don’t allow other to do so. If smoking can’t be avoided, you need to increase the ventilation of the area.

Biological pollutants: ventilate the attic and crawl spaces. Clean and disinfect basement drains. Use central air or a dehumidifier to dry out homes

3. Air Cleaners

In recent years some have suggested that a lot of houseplants will clean the air- the theory being that a plant can process pollutants. This has not proven to be supported with research. Most homes can’t hold enough plants to do much good. Plus when we overwater the plants, we set up a source of microorganism, which can affect we allergic folks! Air cleaners are becoming much better at helping with indoor air quality. We are all familiar with the fiberglass filter that you buy for $.59 at the drug store. These stop cats, birds, and boulders from going into your blower. They stop very little dust and no pollutants, allergens, etc.

The next ones are the ones advertised on a popular radio news commentary. They are supposed to set up a static charge internally and stop all the dust. David White Services routinely has to remove these because they almost STOP the air flow which freezes air conditioner coils and overheats furnaces!

What does work is pleated filters. They allow huge amounts of surface area without restricting air flow significantly.

And now, Ultra Violet air cleaners mounted in the ductwork remove bacteria and viruses from the air.