Do you know that we spend 90% of our time on average inside our homes? According to the EPA, the air quality inside our home is two to five times as bad as the exterior air quality.

 

Most homes built in the last 30 plus years in the Northland air, are well insulated and are encapsulated with a vapor barrier to help stop the infiltration of cold air during winter months and infiltrating hot air during summer months.

With the home being sealed so well, unfortunately it also will hold in Humidity: created by showering, bathing, cooking and laundry, Pollutants: (Dust, dander, pollen, smoke), Pathogens: (mold, viruses, bacteria)

 

Fortunately, there is a whole host of solutions available to address these potential indoor air quality issues in your home.

 

HRV/Air Exchangers: HRV’s (Heat recovery ventilators) are mechanical units that utilize a heat exchanger with internal air circulators which use a ducting system to remove stale air and humidity from your home and replace it with fresh outdoor air. The heat exchanger removes the heat from stale air and transfers it to the cold outdoor air. This is a much more energy efficient solution than utilizing a bath fan or range hood which will not recover the heat energy. The HRV is a great solution for homes that are experiencing high humidity on their windows in the winter time.

 

UV lights, I-Waves: UV lights, I-waves are electronic devices that are used to treat pathogens (molds, viruses, bacteria etc). These are generally placed in the ductwork and breakdown passing pollutants and gases into harmless compounds. This process then turns them into harmless oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. These devices have been effective in removing stale odors in homes also.

 

Filtration: Most homes that utilize a forced air, duct work system have a filter to protect the furnace components and filter air particles. However, most standard filters are thin and very effective at removing small dust particles and other airbourne particulates. There are other upgrade options available that will effectively remove dust and other indoor pollutants such as the media filter which maybe up to 7 times more effective at removing dust particles than a standard 1” filter. Media filters have such tight filtration that it is recommended your system be assessed by a HVAC professional to ensure the furnace ducting and blower can handle the increased load.

 

Humidity: There is a period of time during the long winter season in the Northland that the outdoor humidity drops and can cause a host of indoor environmental issues such as shrinking woodworking and doors, asthma, static electricity, nosebleeds and more. One of the solutions to this problem is a humidifier which will introduce moisture into the home, using a device that looks like a thermostat that will regulate the humidity set point.