Indoor Air Quality: Challenges And Design Tips For Healthy, Comfortable Home Ownership

Effective Whole-Home Solutions

(HIT) - No matter if you are a new home owner or if your home is years old, indoor air quality can effect your health, comfort, belongings and energy savings. The following is a list of indoor air quality challenges homeowners can face and the most comprehensive, effective whole-home solutions.

Excess Moisture and Mold

High humidity levels in the home promote harmful household particles, including mold, bacteria, fungi, dust mites, respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. In addition, an indoor environment with excess moisture can be uncomfortable—regardless of the temperature. To control the conditions that lead to moisture damage and unhealthy airborne contaminants, The Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping humidity levels below 50 percent. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is by installing an Aprilaire Whole-Home Dehumidifier.

Energy Management

One of the simplest ways to reduce energy costs is to install a programmable thermostat to automatically change the home’s temperature based on schedule and lifestyle. Studies show a programmable thermostat can save up to 30 percent a year on heating and cooling bills.

Indoor Dryness

The relative humidity of the Sahara Desert is 25 percent; Death Valley is 23 percent. In the winter months, the average heated home can have a relative humidity as low as 13 to 16 percent. At these humidity levels occupants will suffer from dry nose and throat, itchy skin, increased chance of upper-respiratory problems, and static electricity shocks.

Shrinkage and cracking in furniture, moldings and hardwood floors will occur. The solution is a whole-home humidifier. By using an Aprilaire Whole-Home Humidifier homeowners can automatically keep humidity levels in the home at a comfortable and safe level. Also, by adding moisture to the air they feel warmer with lower, energy-saving indoor temperatures.

Hot and Cold Spots

In a typical two-story home, the upstairs can be 10 degrees warmer than the downstairs. One solution to help regulate uneven temperatures is a Zoned Comfort Control System. The system divides the house into separate zones using thermostats and smart controls that only sends hot or cold air where needed. This allows the homeowner to control the temperature in separate areas of the home. The result is greater comfort and convenience as well as potential energy savings of up to 20 percent.

Indoor Pollutants/Allergens

According to the American Lung Association, "poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of or worsen chronic lung diseases such as lung cancer or asthma. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk for problems caused by poor indoor air quality." In order to combat airborne allergens and other irritants circulating through the house, homeowners can have an Aprilaire Whole-Home Air Cleaner installed as part of their heating and cooling system. These furnace-mounted systems only require annual maintenance and help clean all of the air circulating through the home.

Contaminated Indoor Air

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, "if too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Unless they are built with dedicated mechanical ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to minimize the amount of outdoor air that can "leak" into and out of the home may have higher pollutant levels than other homes." Aprilaire offers two methods of mechanical ventilation, the economical Ventilation Control System and the Energy Recovery Ventilator.

For more information on indoor air quality challenges and Aprilaire’s line of indoor air quality products, visit http://www.aprilaire.com or call 1-800-545-2219.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center