IAQ Services in Dallas-Fort Worth Area
A typical American family generates a substantial quantity of airborne contaminants including dander, smoke, dirt and hair. Other irritants like pollen and contaminants are picked up outside and released indoors through daily movement. When combined, these unhealthy toxins are continually cycled through the HVAC system and transferred from room to room. Breathing contaminated air over an extended period of time can ultimately lead to the development of chronic respiratory illness. Even short-term exposure will aggravate existing conditions like asthma and allergies.
Reliable Indoor Air Quality Specialists
While older homes usually have a number of unplanned fresh air pathways, they are not immune from the effects of substandard indoor air quality. Homeowners who seal envelope leaks to improve efficiency should be aware of the probable IAQ consequences. Older homes often have poorly installed duct systems with serious negative pressure leakage. When the HVAC system is engaged, a variety of contaminants are drawn into the ductwork from the attic or crawl space and blown into the living area. In quantifying the hazard, the EPA has concluded that the air inside an average home is usually 2-5 times more polluted than the air outdoors.
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
A building with an air quality problem can be challenging to remediate, and the professionals at Green Attics incorporate a variety of critical components in a complete IAQ strategy.
Ventilation: Mechanical ventilation devices are installed and calibrated to introduce a specific amount of fresh air into the indoor environment while exhausting stale, contaminated air. Advanced ventilators include recovery features that help recapture some of the energy lost during the air transfer process.
Dehumidifiers: Proper humidification is critical in maintaining healthy indoor air quality. When the air contains too much moisture, microscopic contaminants can multiply quickly. Central dehumidifiers can reduce the relative humidity in a home to healthier levels and will actually help your air conditioning feel more effective. In addition to better IAQ, maintaining proper humidity will help prevent dust mites, triggering allergies and other health problems.
Filtration: Air purifiers are a critical element in a well-designed IAQ system. Filters trap and remove particulate matter as the air passes through the duct system. Filters are mounted directly in the air handler or inside a hinged return air grille located in a wall or ceiling. Every filter is assigned a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV), which is used to compare the effectiveness of different filter styles. MERV measures the size and quantity of particulates that are captured as the air passes through the filter. Fiberglass filters are the least expensive, but they are ineffective at trapping smaller contaminants like pollen and contaminants. Most contractors recommend installing a media filter with a MERV value of at least seven. Electronic air cleaners and HEPA filters are exceptionally efficient at trapping small particles under one micron in size.
Eradication: Contaminants, fungi and other hazardous organisms thrive in a moist, dirty environment, which can be found at the A-coil in an HVAC system. A UV germicidal lamp positioned directly inside the coil will destroy a wide array of spores, contaminants, bacteria and other undesirable biological organisms. A UV lamp will keep the interior of the air handler cleaner, which will help improve performance and extend the life of the equipment.
