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What is INDOOR Air QUALITY (IAQ)?
IAQ is the sum of the effect of heating, cooling, cleaning and humidifying the air inside a structure.
The dramatic increase in the sealing of the new home structure, “envelope”, has caused a growing problem in the quality of the air in homes. Tighter homes, by virtue of better insulation and sealing materials and methods, are susceptible to factors that may result in poorer quality of household air. These factors include chemicals, sealing agents and gasses that are released after the home is finished. As time goes on, dust, mold spores, pet dander, pollen and other irritants and allergens can build up and cause irritations and allergies. Family members who already suffer from allergies or asthma are usually most susceptible to the problems caused by these agents.
Today, there are a variety of products and installations that can help reduce the effect of the many irritants produced by the agents listed above. High efficiency pleated filters (“media filters”), electronic filters and HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are the most common whole house filtration products available. These filters are described in the “Types of Filters” section. Humidity problems also cause more of a concern in today’s homes. Too much or too little humidity can cause discomfort and create other problems. Mold is another major concern today. Devices like UV lights may help control mold problems on air conditioning coils. Sometimes, the most effective way to deal with indoor issues is to bring in outside air, which is often much cleaner than the air in the home. All of these issues are addressed under the headings on the left of this page. |
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