Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
What is it?
Quality indoor air has been an industry catch
phrase since the Legionnaire's Disease episodes
of the 1970's. The phrase itself entails how clean,
fresh and healthy you demand your home and
office air to be. While some people are blessed
not to suffer from allergies at all, many others are
not so fortunate. According to an article in
Forbes.com, "typically, 35 million to 45 million
Americans experience seasonal allergies.
Patients sought relief from their symptoms at a
doctor's office more than 12 million times in 2006,
according to the National Center for Health
Statistics. Treating the nation's allergies is costly:
The bill was $11.2 billion in 2005, the last year for
which data was available." Now, that's a lot of money
to try to slow down allergy symptoms.
Mostly indoors
We spend over 90% of our time indoors and need clean air to breathe. But what are our typical remedies? Upgrading from a one dollar "home store" filter to a five dollar version. Or purchasing an electrostatic filter that starts out decent only to clog up more and more after each cleaning. Next was the craze over ionizers stuck in the corner of the living room or the whole house "hepa filter" perched on top of the mantle. For more information click here. Alas, these devices usually wind up in the attic where they belong. After all, how can you treat all the air in your house from just one corner?
The lungs of your home
On our page about ductwork we mentioned that your ductwork under the house or up in the attic is the "lungs of your home". Any treatment for air purification must start here because you have ducts running to and from every room. Initially you must insure your have clean vents and ducts. And today's innovative technologies help us remove dust, dirt, airborne particulates, pet dander, hair, skin cells (everyone of us shed about four pounds of this dreadful stuff every year) and other debris floating in our home air. For example, when you draw back the blinds to let in some sunshine you notice the rays of the sun are loaded with particulates. And this is just what we can see with the naked eye.
For ideas on how to improve your home indoor air quality in Fort Worth and other air quality information see the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site.
How to stop the dust
Many products are currently available:
- high MERV rated filters with smaller, tighter fiber weave
- electrostatic filters
- large surfaced media filters with airtight enclosures
- electronic air cleaners
- combinations of both of the above
There are an abundance of choices to fit your need
and your budget. Get more facts about healthy indoor
air from the American Lung Association.
Filtration Explained
The chart below explains the various filtration options and their effectiveness
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Indoor Air Quality Products in Fort Worth
As you can see, these are some of the many options available for people suffering from allergies and other symptoms. The lower end options, while cheap in cost, do little to protect your indoor environment. In fact, the cheaper throwaway and pleated filters are designed simply to keep dirt from clogging your evaporator coil. (This is a major problem in maintaining system efficiency. Dirty evaporator coils rob your system of both energy savings and performance - not to mention cooling capacity.)
Protecting YOUR health as well as the health of your system
Many people ask how they can protect both their health and their system. Well, today's technologies and advances in electronics offer solutions for both you and your system.
Fantastic Filter
Designed and recommended by HVAC Engineers and
Asthma/Allergy medical doctors. The Fantastic Filter has
a MERV 12 rating, the highest rating for a residential 1”
pleated filter. They are 95% efficient at 1.8 microns, which
means they trap particles less than 2 microns in size. Be
cause of its gradient layer construction, it provides 60%
greater particle loading capacity than the leading 1” dis
posable filter. Visit our Nature's Home site for full facts
and information concerning Indoor Air Quality in Fort Worth.
MicroPower Guard
Nature’s Home Professional installation required. This
electronic 1” Polarized Media Air Cleaner has a multiple-
pass efficiency of 97% at .3 microns. It will remove 40%
of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and odors. Easy to
maintain by changing the replaceable media within the
metal frame three times per year. Excellent control of larger
and submicronic particles and allergens. Because it is
electro-statically charged, it increases in efficiency as it
loads. Like your television set, it attracts the smallest
particles because it is electrically charged. Click here
for more information
MicroGuardian AirScrubber III
Nature’s Home Professional installation is required. Dual
V-bank MicroPower Guards (see above description of the
MicroPower Guard) in a professionally engineered in-line
cabinet that is integrated with your existing ductwork. This
unique "super system" combines the power of the two in-line
MicroPower Guards for optimum air flow and includes a 24”
oscillating UVC germicidal light with reflective lens for superior
germicidal protection. For more information click here.
The Danger Levels
The various Danger Levels controlled by the products above are explained below:
Ultraviolet Germicidal Light Systems
The Quantum 254® Basic LED HL is designed to reduce
or eliminate mold, germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores
from the indoor air your family breathes every day. The high
output 190 mW twin UVC lamp extends almost 16 inches into
the ductwork and is the most cost-effective solution for providing
maximum results in controlling infectious agents. For more
information, visit our Nature's Home site.
MicroGuardian AirScrubber III
Nature’s Home Professional installation is required. Dual
V-bank MicroPower Guards (see above description of the
MicroPower Guard) in a professionally engineered in-line
cabinet that is integrated with your existing ductwork. This
unique "super system" combines the power of the two in-line
MicroPower Guards for optimum air flow and includes a 24”
oscillating UVC germicidal light with reflective lens for superior
germicidal protection. For more information click here
We have an Indoor Air Quality product for you.
At Thompson's 72 Degree Air Conditioning and Heating we have the product to help with your allergies, dust and indoor air quality needs in Fort Worth. Call today and request a Comfort Advisor to help get your home's indoor air healthy, cool and clean.
Better indoor air quality
Energy Recovery Ventilators
