*Pollutants

 

*Ozone Generators

*Air Cleaner Effectiveness

 

*Clean Air Delivery Rate

 

*Static Pressure

 

*Indoor Air and Allergies

 

*Asthma and Allergy Triggers

 

*Guessing is for Quiz Shows

 

*What size air conditioner do I need for my home?

 

 

 

 

EPA does not recommend using air cleaners to reduce levels of radon and its decay products.

 

CADR

Clean

Air

Delivery

Rate

 

 

 

 

IAQ is an acronym for Indoor Air Quality that is beginning to be more and more prevalent in the media and our society. It's really not a new term or phrase to most people who have been associated with engineering in industrial, commercial and office complexes. It is, however, something that most of us don't consider as a problem in our home. We are aware that the 'Weather man' tells us that the pollen count, ragweed, grass, air pollutants, etc, today is high; OK, so we must stay indoors to keep our (yep mine too) allergies from driving us crazy. (My whole body is tired from trying to catch my runny nose).

In a country where smog, haze and ozone alerts are as common as a traffic jam, it's nice to know we can always come inside for a breath of fresh air. Or can we? Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that 50% of all illnesses are either caused by, or aggravated by poor Indoor Air Quality. Worse yet, the studies show that indoor pollutants can be more than 100 times higher that outdoors. This is especially true for newer homes that have been constructed and sealed to the 'NEW' (1996) Environmental Energy Codes.

In cold weather, we all try to seal out the outside air to prevent drafts and high utility bills, and we have no clue that we are sealing in the contaminants. In the summer when a room or two feels warm or stuffy, we naturally turn the thermostat down to make is cooler, and now we're thinking where are the cool drafts? Again not thinking, that our home is sealed, or that the warm and stuffiness could be a result of high humidity, our teary eyes, this stupid cough and that nose again is most likely a result of air pollutants.

 

Pollutants are divided into three groups. Particles, gaseous pollutants and radon. Particles are very small solid or liquid substances that are light enough to float, and stay suspended in the air (mists, dust or pollen). They are composed of diverse materials including inorganic and organic compounds, dormant and living organisms.

Our primary concerns from a health standpoint are:

Particulates

Asthma Triggers http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html

Three strategies (in order of effectiveness) for removing pollutants in indoor air.

Source control - Eliminates the source of pollutants or reduces their emissions.

Ventilation - brings outside air indoors. It can be achieved by opening windows and doors, but the costs of heating and cooling incoming air can be significant. Home heating and cooling systems, including central heating and cooling, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors, remove contaminants directly from the room when the fan is located, but this does not replace the exhausted air. It actually leaves the room/ home with negative pressure, which will force outside air to be pulled through cracks around doors, windows, recessed lighting, etc.

 

Ozone generators that are sold as Air Cleaners- There is an entire section dedicated to this type of cleaning device. This section can be summed up in these words. "Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners are ineffective in cleaning the air unless they produce sufficient ozone to be dangerous to our health.    http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

 

Air Cleaners - may serve as an adjunct to source control and ventilation. However the use of air cleaning devices alone cannot assure adequate air particularly where significant sources are present and ventilation is inadequate. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=18&cont=222

 

There are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive table-top models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective are particle removal, will others, including most table-top models, are much less effective.

The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air ( expressed as a percentage efficiency rate) and how much air it draws through the cleaning or filtering element ( expressed in cubic feet per minute.)    http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airclean.html#How%20is%20the%20Performance%20Measured

 

Air Cleaner Effectiveness - There are several different industry tests that manufactures may choose from, some less relevant than others, when claiming the efficiency of their devices. The best method for measuring all air cleaning appliances is the Clean Air Delivery Rate ( CADR ). Simply put, it is the amount of clean air a system with deliver into the home. CADR = airflow rate, ( cfm ) x filter efficiency. The standard is recognized by the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ). Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) and American National Standards Institute ( ANSI ) as a fair and objective comparison of air cleaner technologies. The efficiency of the air cleaning device and the volume of air it cleans both affect CADR. A dirty filter will have a drastic impact on the efficiency of an air cleaner.

 

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) Seal - Primarily for room air cleaners. This program informs the consumer by rating each cleaner according to the amount of clean air the product will deliver per minute in cubic feet (CFM). Ratings are assigned for tobacco smoke, dust and pollen, along with appropriate room sizes. The CADR testing procedures are based on ANSI, AHAM, AC-1-19855, the American National Standard for particle removal.   http://www.cadr.org

 

Static pressure - similar to the resistance of water flowing through a pipe. Briefly, is the pressure created by the evaporator coil, ducts and the filter in the air stream of the system, that the blower must overcome to distribute air into the home.

 

Filter Selection is more important than most people realize. A filter that has too dense a media could restrict the air flow and result in, among other things:

I) Noticeable temperature variation from room to room. II) System air flow starvation which effects the cooling and heating capacity. There are filters sold that claim to be "3 month filters" - Here is a very big CAUTION! If your 1 month filter is one inch thick, and the 3 month filter is also one inch thick, what makes the same dirt and debris not block the air flow for an extra 2 months? A filter that we refer to as rock stoppers, the ones that you can see through, are useless, except as a pre-filter. Caution: Some systems may not be capable of handling a pre-filter.

A very dirty filter will result in restricted air flow to the entire system. We have seen this condition result in water damage to floors and ceilings from the frozen evaporator coil, as well as burned-out compressors. Both very expensive problems resulted from the lack of a $3.00 filter.

 

Indoor Air Quality and Allergens

Allergy and Asthma control begins at home. Many people with allergies stay indoors when outdoor air is full of pollen and spores. But dust mites, animal dander, VOCs and even cockroaches can cause problems indoors.

Eight out of ten people in the United States are exposed to cat and dog dander. Cockroaches cause allergic reactions among people who live in the southern parts of the United States.

Controlling the air quality in your home can reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.

 

The best way to improve symptoms is to eliminate the source of the allergen. The next best step is to take measures to decrease the exposure. Other important measures are to increase the circulation of outdoor air into the home and to reduce the humidity as much as possible.

 

Reducing humidity decreases dust mite and mold growth. Properly maintained air conditioners help reduce the humidity as well as prevent the exposure to indoor allergens. You can reduce the number of outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold from entering the home by keeping windows and doors closed and the air conditioner set to re-circulate. This, however, does not reduce the concentration levels. Circulation of fresh outside air is required to dilute the concentrations.    www.aafa.org

 

For a healthy living environment it is recommended that there be 6 to 10 air exchanges per hour. The EPA, The National Association Of Home Builders, many local Building Codes and (ASHRAE) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers recommend adequate ventilation in homes.

 

Indoor Environmental Asthma and Allergy Triggers

We spend 90% of our times indoors and therefore, indoor allergens and irritants play a significant roll in triggering asthma attacks. It is important to recognize potential asthma triggers in the indoor environment and reduce your exposure to those triggers. You may not be affected by all of the triggers listed here, and there may be some we have omitted.

Your doctor can help determine which triggers affect your asthma and / or allergies and will assist in developing a customized management plan. In severe cases, individuals may qualify for an IRS tax deduction for equipment installed to alleviate certain conditions.

Secondhand Smoke

Dust Mites

Mold

Cockroaches and other pests

Warm blooded pets (cats and dogs)

Nitrogen Dioxide

Second Hand Smoke - is a mixture of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled by the smoker that is often found in homes and cars where smoking is allowed.

Dust Mites - are too small to be seen, but can be found in almost every home in mattresses and bedding materials, carpets, upholstered furniture, stuffed toys and curtains.

Mold - can grow indoors when mold spores land on wet or damp surfaces. In the home, mold is most commonly found in the bathroom, kitchen and basement.

Cockroaches and other pests - body parts, secretions and droppings, and the urine and saliva of pets, such as rodents, are often found in areas where food and water are present.

Warm-blooded pets - such as cats and dogs emit skin flakes, urine and saliva when pets are allowed inside.

Nitrogen Dioxide - (Not to be confused with Carbon  Monoxide which is a deadly gas that is also colorless and odorless). This odorless nitrogen dioxide gas can be a byproduct of indoor clean fuel burning appliances, such as gas stoves, gas furnaces, wood stoves, space heaters and fireplaces.

 

The National Ambient Air Quality Standard (legal pollution limit) is 53 parts per billion (ppb).

 

What size Air Conditioner do I need for my home?

"In the old days" its was common practice to use a number based on the size of the home in square feet. Thus began the first problem; some contractors use 400 per square feet per ton, and others used 500 square feet per ton. Who cared? The home usually got cool in the summer, at least cooler than outside and we all accepted the fact that some rooms would be more comfortable than others.

Well things have changed, very drastically. The new higher efficiency equipment ( 13 SEER minimum ) actually produces more cooling per ton than older less efficient systems. This is more efficient equipment can in most cases be too much refrigeration for your home. A home that has an over sized air conditioner will get cool very quickly -- Good! You Say? -- Nope! A home that has an over sized air conditioner will get very cold very quickly, this results in many bad things.

The proper method of determining the correct size air conditioner is with an, ACCA approved Manual J, heat load calculation. This method is mentioned in most of the links provided in this page as well as in all our Better Business Bureau literature. We have been providing this service for all new installations for some time.

A direct quote from the Heating and Air Conditioning, 2000 International Residential Code for One- and Two- Family Dwellings, Chapter 14, "M1401.3 Sizing. Heating and cooling equipment shall be sized based on building loads calculated in accordance with ACCA manual J or other approved heating and cooling calculation methodologies."

 

Guessing is for is for quiz shows.

A Healthy home is not a guessing game. I don't know anyone who can walk into someone's home or office and tell the quality of the air that is present. We don't guess, we have the capability to test the indoor air quality, make the proper recommendations to correct the problems and then we can retest to verify.

How do I know the contaminant levels in my home?

This process involves a few simple procedures:

For homeowners that wish to qualify for Energy Efficient Mortgages, we can arrange for a 'Whole House Comfort Check' using a Blower Door. This test pressurizes the house under a negative pressure; leaks at windows, doors, wall outlets, recessed lighting, etc, are located using smoke pencil. This test is also available to identify areas of infiltration that are effecting a clean home condition.

Helping to inform you.

This section of our site is our education page. It is intended to inform you, our potential customer, as well as to keep our present customers abreast of conditions in our industry that effect all of us.

The information presented here concerning the indoor air quality problems that may exist in your home is intended to alert you, and offer some solutions, especially if you are an allergy sufferer.

As a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor, we are required to attend update classes each year in order to renew this license. American Standard requires a continuing education program in order to maintain our 'Customer Care Dealer' status, and NATE Certification requires continuing education. There are not many contractors with our certifications. www.americanstandardair.com

And I, having been involved in industry and engineering, know the value of an educated staff of technicians.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of further assistance.

And, remember we have the American standard exclusive, ACCULEAN™ whole house filtration system that removes 99.98% of allergens and particulates with a CADR of 2000.

The ERV with nominal air flow of 300 CFMtop It's, exchanges clean outdoor air, actually reduces your Air Conditioning utility cost and saves energy.

Wayne