Living along the Wasatch Range, we all know what it's like to get up into the mountains and take in a breath of that clean, natural, fresh mountain air. At Home Performance Pros, we want you to have that same feeling when you walk back into your home.
In the Salt Lake Valley, we have to deal with inversion, smog pollution, smoke from nearby wildfires, and extreme mountain-desert dryness from low humidity, making our outdoor air quality at some times the worst in the nation!
If I'm inside my home, is it still a problem?
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air quality due to the concentration of pollutants in indoor environments. Americans spend approx. 90% of their time indoors, where the concentration of some pollutants can be 2-5X higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Some sources of indoor air pollution include: combustion byproducts from gas burning appliances (furnace, water heater, etc) such as carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter. Others include smoke, radon, pet dander, mold, pesticides, lead, asbestos, ozone, and various VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which can come from different cleaning products, aerosols, etc.
The potential impact of indoor air quality on human health can be noteworthy for several reasons. People who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (very young, elderly adults, and people with asthma, allergies, and cardiovascular or respiratory diseases) tend to spend even more time indoors. Indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to factors such as energy-efficient building construction (tight construction, LEED certified, etc) that lack sufficient ventilation to ensure adequate air exchange. Also, increased use of synthetic construction materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.
COVID-19 Helped Increased Awareness
During the pandemic, we learned and were reminded about the seriousness of airborne illnesses, but not many of us understood what we can do to reduce or eliminate the spread, especially indoors. Today we see hospitals, nursing and retirement homes, schools, daycare centers, cruise ships, and restaurants all lead the way by taking care of their indoor air quality problems with products we've had around for a while. A good example of this is airplanes. Remember how little the virus spread on planes? They have been using HEPA filters and UV purifiers for a long time now and the proof of their effectiveness is there. The air on planes is continuously recirculated for the entire flight. Zero fresh air comes into the pressurized cabin. With the right technology, we can provide great indoor air quality 24/7/365, right where most of us need it the most... At home.
3 Ways to Improve Your Home's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
1. Air Filtration
Better idea? Upgrade your filter. If you only have room for a 1" thick filter, we recommend a MERV 8 filter rating, or having an electrostatic filter installed. These will capture most particulates, dust, etc that com through your HVAC system without restricting airflow. If you have the room for a thicker filter, our #1 recommendation is to install a wide media filter. These filters have a MERV 11-16 rating and will capture all particulates down to .3 microns. That's smaller than we can even see. These filters can also last 6-12 months before needing to be replaced! You can also consider upgrading your furnace to have a variable speed motor. These are designed to run 24/7, while using very little energy, which means you are filtering your air 24/7 for the best indoor air quality.
Note: Big box, grocery stores, etc, do not carry any of these nicer filters. And most won't even mention the MERV rating. Even their "better" filters they sell, are often too restrictive for most homes in Utah with how the ductwork is sized and installed.
Call Home Performance Pros today for a free IAQ consultation and estimate at 385-503-7767.
You can also order any type of replacement filters on HPP's online shop. Subscribe, pick your filter, and how often it needs to be changed and it will show up at your doorstep automatically, so you never forget.
2. Air Purification
This is where it gets really cool!
Ok, so we've taken care of dirt, dust, dander, pollen, allergens, and other particulates with our upgraded filter system. Now, let's take care of everything else...
In most homes in Utah, we can install an air purification system to your existing ductwork, near the furnace and evaporator coil. In the picture above, you can see the airflow (that would be inside of the ductwork) being treated by UVA and UVC ultraviolet bulbs. The triangular black piece would be outside of the ductwork, with lights and indicators of it operating. For the best indoor air quality, we would match this up to a furnace with constant air circulation to treat the air all day long.
What does it do? The UV system takes care of viruses, bacteria, mold spores, odors, smoke, etc. It also keeps your evaporator coil extremely clean. The better models have a catalyst and add extra oxygen molecules to the air, providing "cleaning agents" that circulate throughout the home and even treat surfaces by disinfecting and sterilizing anything they land on. They also greatly reduce the risk of getting or transmitting airborne diseases. Remember the planes? The available LED model produces zero ozone, making it the healthiest option on the market. Maintenance of these UV systems is very minimal, typically just replacing the bulbs as they burn out light other light bulbs. Usually after 3-5 years.
Call Home Performance Pros today for a free IAQ consultation and estimate at 385-503-7767.
3. Humidification
If you've lived here long enough, you might be used to the dryness we have here. Maybe you grew up getting nosebleeds and thought that's normal? Maybe your lips cracking or bleeding when you wake up in the winter time? These are problems that Utah is famous for, but there is a solution.
As we turn on our forced-air gas furnaces and run them all winter, we are effectively using a blow dryer to heat up the house, in the fact that we just dry out the entire home and everything in it. Did you know that the average home in Utah loses 5,000 lbs of weight every winter from the loss of moisture? You may see symptoms of this around the house such as hardwood floors getting gaps between the seams, doors warping, excessive static electricity, dry and itchy skin, etc, etc. There are times each winter when the relative humidity outside is less than 10%. How can raising the humidity in the home help?
By installing a whole-home humidifier, you are treating the entire home for countless benefits. Typically, we can install one directly to the existing ductwork near the furnace and tie in to an existing water line, meaning never refilling the humidifier. The only maintenance is usually replacing a humidifier pad once a year as it will harden and calcify with the water quality here.
By raising the humidity to the optimum level of around 35%, you will protect everything made of wood in the home, you will protect artwork and instruments and keep them in tune longer. You will protect your skin and hair. You won't send Fido across the room from static electricity while petting him.
Other benefits include improved air filtration, as the humidity helps particulates clump together, making them larger (still microscopic) and more catchable with your filter. Also, you feel warmer at lower temperatures when the humidity is up, so you may be able to keep your thermostat set to a lower temperature, saving on utility costs (think of 80 degrees in Miami vs 80 degrees in Salt Lake).
The type of humidifier needed for your home depends on location, square footage, construction, etc.
Call Home Performance Pros today for a free IAQ consultation and estimate at 385-503-7767.
