Nine Steps to High IAQ

In order to achieve high Indoor Air Quality, IAQ, its important to understand the most common sources of air problems. Your home may not exhibit all nine of these contributing factors, but just about every home has a few. One is not necessarily more important than the other. Whats important is that each of these areas are inspected and corrected if necessary.

1. Excessive dryness. If youve noticed that your floor boards creak, your house is too dry. Excessive dryness could even cause floorboards to warp and furniture to crack. If you dont have a built-in humidification system, you can add moisture with a room humidifier. Once you get your moisture level stabilized, your home will feel more comfortable and your energy bills may even go down as a result.

2. Excessive moisture is just as big a problem as excessive dryness. It promotes the growth of microbes and mildew. The first symptom is usually moisture collecting on your windows and dampness on the walls. A properly sized air conditioning system cools indoor air and reduces humidity. A dehumidifier works best.

3. Uneven air circulation is often caused by a poorly sized duct system. Check your ducts to make sure theyre tightly sealed and free of debris so they can achieve maximum efficiency and air quality. Have them inspected by a professional once every three years to ensure they are clean and operating efficiently.

4. Sealing air leaks will virtually eliminate drafts and prevent pollutants from entering your home through the leaks. It will also help minimize energy consumption. Windows and doors can be a source of drafts.

5. Irregular maintenance of your heating and cooling system leads to poor air circulation, reduced efficiency and wasted energy. A regular HVAC tune-up of your furnace and air conditioner helps keep tabs on the air quality inside your home.

6. Carbon Monoxide is one of the hardest things to detect. A plug-in home CO detector can alert you to carbon monoxide leakage and avert serious health hazards.

7. A fireplace adds great atmosphere to a home, but it is a potential source of indoor pollutants, particularly if the damper is not properly closed.

8. Improper venting can result in condensation. It can also be the cause of stuffy air and even contribute to structural damage to your house. Mechanical ventilation systems remove poor indoor air and replace it with fresh, conditioned outdoor air.

9. Airbourne particles come from almost anywhere and often result in allergic reactions. A good filtering system, such as the highly rated HC16 filter can help provide respiratory relief by removing dirt, pollen and unwanted particles from your indoor air.