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RE: Humidification, Filtration, &
Your
Indoor Environment
Dear Website Customer:
Do you ever think that your air conditioner
is broken when it is cool inside? Does the heating system need
repairs if it is blowing warm air? We have all heard the phrase
"it’s not the heat, you know, it’s the humidity!"
Well the new phrase for the year 2000 and beyond will be "its
not the air, it’s the chemicals in the air."
As we move into the 21st Century, changes
in our world are causing changes in our living environments. We
believe that the EPA is looking out for our best interest with
improvements in industrial emissions, the Clean Air Act, and improvements
in automotive exhaust systems. In truth, they are making vast
improvements. The real problem lies in our homes and businesses.
Starting in the 1970’s, energy began
to get expensive. Architects and engineers responded immediately
with new construction and building standards that have resulted
in some of the most tightly constructed, highest efficiency buildings
ever imagined. The one factor overlooked during the first decade
of this type of construction was pollution. Not the industrial
pollution that you and I usually envision, but the pollution from
inside our homes and businesses. Cleaning chemicals, emissions
from flooring and wall materials, beauty products, smoking, and
thousands of other chemicals soon became trapped inside the structures
in which we live and work. We are being poisoned by the very technological
improvements that we invented to make life more enjoyable.
All is not lost. We are not doomed to a
life of allergies, coughing and early demise. The heating air
conditioning and ventilation industry is waking up to the facts
mentioned above with four direct solutions. They are not only
simple to implement in your home and business, they are simple
to maintain. They are as follows:
- All commercial buildings have fresh air
ventilation systems for the intake of fresh air and the exhaust
of contaminated air. Get these systems operational once
again. The residential market is awash with new products
specifically designed for use in newly constructed "tight"
homes for the intake of fresh air. Consider the installation
of one of these systems.
- Inspect your duct systems, or have
them inspected, for cleanliness and tightness .
The duct must be clean and leak free to provide
clean air to your home or business.
- Filtration is often talked about and is
also one area subject to the "smoke and mirrors" sales
approaches. Bottom line: Use a good high efficiency filter,
be sure it fits tight in the frame, and be sure it is changed
regularly. The filter is often the only defense to certain
types of mold and fungus in your HVAC system. Proper service
is a must.
- Humidification must be introduced to a
tight structure. Humidity can come from showers, cooking, laundry,
and other sources. Unfortunately, usually more humidity is required
in the Winter than these sources can provide. If a humidifier
is installed, it will greatly improve indoor comfort during the
dry Winter. Improper or inadequate humidifier service can lead
to poor humidification, or worse, growth of algae and molds in
your HVAC system. Install a humidifier if you need one.
If you have a humidifier, get it serviced.
These items are required in all tight building
structures, but to what degree do you require them in yours? Many
items required for environmental comfort can be implemented by
you or your staff for little or no money. Feel free to call us
at (214) 631-1010 and discuss your indoor environment. We’ll
look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
KAHN MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS
Josh Kahn
TACL A16607C
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