There are all kinds of particles floating around in our air that should not be entering our homes. Particles such as viruses, bacteria, dust, dander and pollen, as well as airborne chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene can all be harmful to our health. These contaminants are drawn into the filter and are caught in the electrically charged media pads. The glass fibre pads act as a magnet, capturing even the smallest of particles.

According to the NAFA (National Air Filtration Association), 95 to 98% of indoor air is made up of particles smaller than one micron - including most of the worst toxins, bacteria, viruses and lung-damaging dust.

If we took 0.1 cubic feet of air, here’s approximately how many particles would be found at the following micron sizes:

27,000 particles at the 0.3 - 0.5 micron level
4,500 particles at the 0.5-1.0 micron level
500 particles at the 1.5 micron level
20 particles at the 5-10 micron level
A few at the 10-25 micron level

In order for this to sink in, let’s put it into context. We know that 95 - 98% of indoor air is made up of particles smaller than one micron. How big is a micron, anyway? Put it this way. The size of a human strand of hair is 70 microns. So, unless you’re Superman, you can’t physically see any of the evil floating around in the air.

Many air filter companies say they are “95% efficient at 1 micron” - which really means they are collecting less than 2% of the harmful airborne particulates. That’s not helping you! Knowing the details of what you want to eliminate will help you ensure that your home is as healthy as possible.

Improving the air
doesn’t stop with pollutants.
It’s also important
to consider moisture levels.

You know when your home’s air is too hot or cold. That is because you feel uncomfortable. But the amount of moisture in your home’s air also has an impact on the way you feel, plus it can have a major effect on your health.

Too much
High moisture levels can make your home feel stuffy and create a breeding ground for mold, mildew, dust mites and bacteria. Recent studies have shown that mold can cause or worsen asthma, as well as hay fever and other allergies*.

Too little
Dry air makes furniture shrink, warp and crack. Plus, it causes skin irritation and respiratory problems,** not to mention annoying static shocks.

Just right
For optimal comfort and health, studies show that moisture levels should be in the range of 35% to 50%. You can track your home’s humidity with a hygrometer, available at hardware and home improvement stores. Or, you can contact your local Service Experts professional for in-home consultation.

*American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2004

**Exposure to excessively dry air (relative humidity of less than 20%) can cause respiratory irritation. Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Article is courtesy Service Experts Canada - Toronto, Mississauga and Ottawa Heating and Cooling specialists

A healthy home is in your hands. Just use the checklists below.

Source Control
The best way to improve the air in your home is to attack problems at the source. The following checklist will help you do just that.

Tips to help control dust and other biological contaminants
*Use a vacuum cleaner with strong suction, and a rotating beater brush to loosen ground-in dirt. Two-ply bags with HEPA filters ensure the dirt stays in the bag.
*Install hard surface coverings on floors, windows and furniture — they help repel dust.
*Avoid pets inside your home. If you wish to keep a pet indoors, make sure it is groomed often and keep it away from carpets, furniture and beds.
*Wash bedding weekly at a hot setting.
*Use hypoallergenic dust covers on your mattress and pillows to deter dust mites and other biological contaminants.

Tips to help control odors, fumes, and gases
*Keep interior doors leading directly into the garage closed. Leave the garage door open at least 5 minutes after a car enters or leaves the garage.
*Extinguish all burning embers in your fireplace before shutting the flue.
*Leave the door open to any room that does not have a return vent.
*Use non-toxic cleaning products. Keep them sealed and store them away from high traffic areas in your home.
*Eliminate tobacco smoke in the home.
*Install and use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Tips to help control the humidity levels in your home
*Check your home for leaks near windows, doors, attic accesses and dryer vents.
*Ensure your ductwork is inspected and cleaned by a professional.
*Reduce static electricity in your home by installing a humidifier.
*Maintain relative humidity in the 35 to 50% range. Over 50% can promote mold and other bacterial growths. Below 35% can cause sore throats, sinus congestion, skin disorders, warps in wooden furniture and floors, separation in wood floors, and gaps in molding.
*If you live in a warmer, humid climate, be certain your air conditioning equipment is sized properly and ensure it’s in good working order for the best dehumidification. (If no air conditioning system is present, a dehumidifier can be a good option to maintain proper humidity in your home.) In colder climates, a humidifier may be used to increase humidity levels as needed.
*Have a precision tune-up performed on your heating and cooling system twice each year for maximum efficiency, comfort and safety.

Ventilation
Today’s modern homes are tightly sealed to keep conditioned air in and save energy. The problem is, without the right amount of fresh air, your home can become a breeding ground for pollutants. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do with the help of a Service Experts professional to improve ventilation in your home.

Here are just some of the many aspects of healthy ventilation you should be aware of when it comes to ensuring that your family can enjoy a healthy home:
*Have your kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans tested to determine if a back draft from another flue (such as your water heater or fireplace) is drawing carbon monoxide into your home.
*Contain your renovations to one room at a time.
*Seal and vent renovated rooms before continuing to the next project.
*Have an existing ventilation system properly maintained with regular service.
*Mechanical ventilation systems such as Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) and Energy *Recovery Ventilators (ERV) are balanced systems that bring in and filter the outdoor air while exhausting stale indoor air. These systems capture energy and use it to heat or cool the incoming air for greater energy efficiency and comfort.
*Rather than opening windows for ventilation, consider solutions that only allow filtered conditioned outside air to come indoors and help dilute any pollution in your home’s air.

Filtration
Another way to keep your home healthy is to clean the air by filtering out as many pollutants as possible.

A proper filtration system helps clean the air in your home:
*Determine the appropriate air filtration and cleaning equipment for the needs of your family. Service Experts can help educate you regarding various options so that you can choose the option that is best for the health of your home.
*Regardless of the options selected, an important step in good filtration is the constant recirculation of air throughout your home.
*Remove up to 97.5% of all airborne house dust in less than 24 hours, as well as 99.9% of all allergy causing pollen and spores, with an air cleaner.
*UV lights are an excellent problem solver in areas where bacteria or biological contaminants are a concern.
*UV lights can reduce and destroy biocontaminants by bathing them in high intensity UV.
For the complete filtration system, ask your Service Experts professional about the newest filtration and purification system –the photo catalytic purification system–which combines filtration of particles and bacteria as well as reduces odors.

**Courtesy of Service Experts - Expertise You Can Rely On - Guaranteed!

Chris Paulsen

People who choose to have their heating ducts cleaned tend to do so because their children or other family members are suffering from breathing problems. Air and furnace ducts, when uncleaned, breed mold and mildew and lead to poor air quality. Furnace duct cleaning will also improve the efficiency of your furnace.

Duct cleaning requires not only of the ducts themselves, but of the entire furnace system: the blower, heat exchangers, cooling coils, and condensate pan. When these parts are clean, air flows efficiently through the entire system.

If you or someone in your household is experiencing health problems, and you suspect your furnace air ducts might be the problem, call a duct cleaning company. They can inspect your furnace ducts, and will most likely use robotic video equipment to show you how dirty the ducts actually are. If the video surveillance reveals mold anywhere in the duct system, it’s time to clean your furnace ducts.

Dust and mold can appear to be similar on a scan of the ducts. If the furnace cleaning professionals are unsure, touch a piece of tape to the inside of a furnace duct, and have a lab analyze it for you.

Methods of Cleaning Furnace Ducts

There are several ways to clean furnace ducts. One way is to use an extremely powerful vacuum, which remains in a truck outside. A long hose runs to the furnace area and attaches to the furnace ducts. From the rooms, mechanical brushes, air jet brushes or air snakes pull the dust loose within the furnace ducts.

Another way to clean furnace ducts is with a smaller vacuum unit located inside your house, in the vicinity of the furnace. This vacuum should contain a HEPA exhaust filter to ensure that the dust from the furnace ducts does not fill the air in the room.

A third way of cleaning furnace ducts is to run a rotating brush that is attached to a vacuum nozzle through the furnace ducts.

When selecting methods and services for your furnace duct cleaning, look for quality over cost. A poor quality furnace cleaning job can leave you worse off than before, as it can pull the dust off the furnace duct walls without sucking it all in.

Remember, furnace duct cleaning costs money, so before you sign a service contract, ensure that the company has given you sufficient visual evidence that furnace duct cleaning is necessary. Also, make sure your furnace duct cleaning provider can explain to you in detail how he/she will clean the entire system, not just the ducts. If one component of the system is left uncleaned, it may recontaminate the entire system, defeating the purpose of having put out the cash for the cleaning in the first place. Ask that your furnace duct cleaning provider give you a full duct-length visual inspection after the cleaning is complete, preferably with a camera inside the ducts.

cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

Maintenance and Care

Annual maintenance will improve the efficiency and prolong the life of your equipment, and is often required to maintain your manufacturer’s warranty. Your equipment should only be serviced by a qualified service technician.
Caution: Do not perform any maintenance without turning OFF the power to the equipment.

Gas Furnaces

1. Permanent or disposable air filters should be cleaned and changed every two months during the heating and cooling seasons.
Note: For new homes, it is advisable to wash permanent filters once per month for the first year.
2. Check unit operation annually. Do not wait until you need heating! Annual maintenance is required to maintain the warranty.

Air Conditioners

1. After turning the power to the unit off, rinse outdoor coil annually with garden hose to remove dust, grass cuttings, etc.
2. Check unit operation annually. Do not wait until you need cool air! Annual maintenance is recommended.
Notes:
A. It is recommended that the thermostat be set no lower than 21ºC (70ºF) for cooling. Below this temperature, ice could form on the indoor coil, possibly resulting in damage to the equipment.
B. If ice forms on the connectors going into the indoor coil or outdoor unit, turn equipment off and call for service immediately!
C. In cooling mode, do not lower temperature setting on the thermostat unless the outdoor unit has been off for five minutes. The breaker will probably trip or a fuse may blow if you turn it on too soon.

Humidifiers

1. Turn humidistat to OFF position, then turn water supply off, and close humidifier damper every spring.
2. Turn water supply on, then turn humidistat to ON position, and open humidifier damper every fall.
3. Empty water reservoir on drum type every spring.
Notes:
A. Only operates when the furnace fan is running, and the humidistat is calling for humidity.
B. Acceptable humidity levels vary dependent upon outside temperature but they usually range between 30% and 50%.
C. Place conditioning tablets in water reservoir to prevent bacteria buildup.

Electronic Air Cleaners

1. Gently clean the electronic air plates every two months. Use approved cleaner.
2. Clean pre-filters every two months
Caution: To avoid improper operation, be careful not to bend plates

Media Air Cleaners

1. Replace or clean filters every two months. Some systems require the filter to be replaced more often, depending on environmental conditions. Filters may need to be changed more frequently in newly constructed homes, homes under renovation, or homes where several pets live. Call us for filter media.

Fresh Air Ventilation Systems

1. Check intake and exhaust filters monthly. If required, vacuum the filters, or rinse under a water tap. Mild detergents may be used, but do not use solvent cleaners.
2. Check the core every six months for dirt accumulation. If required, slide the core carefully out of the case. Clean the core with water and mild detergents only. Do not use solvents or other cleaning agents; the water temperature must not exceed 65ºC (150ºF). Do not use a high-pressure hose, and be sure to replace the core carefully. It must be properly aligned with the service instructions facing outward and the arrow up.
3. The drain pans should be wiped clean with water and mild detergents. Avoid solvent-based cleaners!
4. Set dehumidification control to summer setting or winter setting dependent on applicable season.
5. Check outside hood to make sure it is free and clear of debris.

Thermostats

Conventional type: This type of thermostat does not require any maintenance. Note: If the room is dark, a small blue flash may be noticed when heating or air conditioning comes on. This is normal.
Programmable / Electronic types: Annual replacement of batteries is necessary for proper operation where applicable.
Notes
A. This type of thermostat normally maintains the temperature within half of 1ºC, unlike conventional thermostats, which may vary up to 3ºC. The furnace or air conditioner may cycle more rapidly, especially under low load conditions. This is a normal operating condition.
B. Programmable thermostats can conserve energy and save you money.
C. Do not set back your temperature more than 3ºC. A temperature difference of more than 3ºC will not provide any savings.
Downloads
1f80-261 Programmable Electronic Digital Thermostat installation and operation instructions Download (204KB, PDF)
1f90-371 Thermostat ManualDownload (320KB, PDF)

Continuous Fan Operation

Definite advantages can be obtained by providing continuous fan operation, particularly with the use of fresh air ventilation systems, energy efficient air cleaners and power humidifiers. Today’s new and efficient motors can save you hundreds of dollars while providing better indoor air quality.

Home Comfort Products

Call us for home comfort products: Arpi’s Industries in Calgary 1-403-236-2444

STAY WARM - ENERGY EFFICIENT GAS FURNACES
Natural gas furnaces are up to 96% fuel efficient. They can save you a bundle and are also environmentally friendly, reducing the global greenhouse effect. Two stage firing and variable speed blowers are energy-saving features available on certain models.

STAY COOL - ENERGY EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONERS
Use less fuel with a high efficiency air conditioner. The lower the decibel ratings, the quieter the equipment operates to conform to noise pollution regulations. Warm weather dehumidification! Energy Efficient! Dependable! Environment Savings!

STAY COMFORTABLE - HUMIDIFIERS
Proper humidity greatly lessens the instance and severity of respiratory infections and can reduce excessive heating due to improved comfort levels. Cut down your energy consumption with environmentally friendly controls. The acceptable humidity range is between 30% to 50%.
Recommended Relative Humidity should be 35%
Sahara Desert 25%
Death Valley 23%
Average Heated Home 13 to 16%

BREATHE EASIER - ENERGY EFFICIENT AIR CLEANERS
Help to decrease the effects of allergies and reduce illness by removing airborne dust, dirt, pollen and allergens from the air you breathe. Your high efficiency air cleaner will control your indoor environment and will continue to assist your ventilation system in providing cleaner, healthier air quality.

BREATHE CLEAN - QUALITY FRESH AIR SYSTEMS
Using the latest technology, HEPA filters help rid your home of stale, stuffy air and polluting particles. A true HEPA filter is 99.97% efficient at 0.3 microns, and can trap dust, dander and smoke particles to clean the air you breathe. A HEPA filter can also help eliminate contaminants released by household chemicals, building materials, carpets and furniture. A quality fresh air system is essential for healthy air because today’s homes are built relatively air tight. They are also important for removing excessive humidity and preventing potentially damaging condensation.

STAY SAFE - CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
Guard against carbon monoxide (CO), a potentially hazardous chemical. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is produced when any fuel is incompletely burned. A properly working CO detector can provide an early warning to you and your family before this potentially deadly gas builds up to a dangerous level. A CO detector is an inexpensive way to help insure your family’s safety and well being. CO detectors can be used as backup but not as replacement for proper use and maintenance of your fuel-burning appliances.

**Article courtesy of Arpi’s Industries Ltd. - your Calgary Home Comfort, heating, cooling, air conditioning and furnace specialist.

With increasing attention focused on health concerns from biological contaminants and dust in the indoor environment, the American Lung Association recommends the use of duct cleaning:

Duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, nor is scientific evidence currently available to conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g. dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed.

When health problems are believed to be the result of biological contaminants or dust in indoor air, it is important to first determine that contaminated ducts are the cause of the health problems and verify that the ducts are, in fact, contaminated. The source of the problem may lie elsewhere, so cleaning ducts may not permanently solve the problem.

People who have their ducts cleaned should verify that the service provider takes steps to protect individuals from exposure to dislodged pollutants and chemicals used during the cleaning process. This may involve using HEPA filtration when cleaning, providing respirators for workers and having occupants vacate during cleaning.