Indoor Air Quality
What is indoor air quality? Well, it’s just that, it is the quality of the air that
we breathe when we are indoors. This includes the quantity and type of particles in
the air, as well as the humidity and freshness of the air. All of these things can
be controlled and improved through your heating and air conditioning system.
Duct Cleaning
Duct Cleaning is the process of removing the dust, dirt and debris
from the inside walls of your heating and cooling systems ductwork.
Many homeowners who pride themselves with having clean homes would
be horrified if they could see the inside of their ductwork. Because
it is out of sight, the ductwork is a frequently overlooked location
for allergy and odor causing contaminants in your home. During
construction, renovation and with normal use over time dirt and contaminants
collect inside the duct system.
Electronic Air Cleaners vs. Media Air Cleaners
The two primary types of Whole House Air Cleaners are the Electronic type and Mechanical or
Media type. Both have good features and benefits. Which one is right for your home depends
upon your individual needs and your equipment type and configuration.
An electronic air cleaner uses an electrical field to charge small particles in the air as
they pass through the filter. Once the particles are charged, they then pass through a
collector grid with the opposite polar charge. This makes the dust and small particles
stick to the collector like a magnet. Electronic units usually have a pre-filter to catch
the larger particles before they enter the charging field. These filters have an excellent
capture rate if they are properly sized, installed and maintained. They do not require filter
replacement, but they do require regular maintenance. The collection efficiency falls as the
collection plates become coated with dust. The pre-filters and collection cells need to be
removed and cleaned regularly to maintain efficiency.
A mechanical or media air cleaner uses a tightly woven material to physically trap dust and
small particles. The collection rate of small particles is typically less than that of an
electronic type, but media type filters require much less maintenance. The media is usually
pleated to extend the surface area of the filter material. There is nothing to clean with
these filters, but the media will need to be replaced typically once or twice per year
depending on usage and conditions in the home. Unlike electronic types, media type filters
actually become more efficient over time. Of course, once they become "clogged" they will
begin to reduce airflow through the system as they become too restrictive.
Which one is right for you and your home? Give us a call and we can help you decide. There
are many ways to improve the quality of the air inside your home. Let NorthStar Heating & Air
Conditioning show you how to breathe easier today!
How UV Lights Work
Ultraviolet Air Purifiers are a great addition to any home comfort system. From
controlling odors to killing harmful airborne contaminants, your home will be a
fresher, more healthy environment. The principle behind UV air purifiers is simple:
High intensity Ultraviolet light is harmful to living organisms. UV technology has been
used in food processing and water treatment for years. The only maintenance required is
to replace the bulb once per year.
There are two primary uses of UV lights in HVAC systems. The first is for control of
biological growth on surfaces. An ultraviolet light placed above your evaporator coil
will kill and prevent re-growth of mold and bacteria on the surfaces of the evaporator
and drain pan. This is a common place for these things to grow as it is normally cool,
dark and damp. This is known as coil irradiation and is very effective.
The second type is for control of airborne biological particles. These would include dust
mites, mold spores, bacteria and viruses. As airborne bacteria, viruses and dust mites pass
by the light in the duct they receive a lethal dose of UV radiation. One thing to consider
when using this type of approach is the "kill zone" around the light. The intensity of the
light diminishes at the square of the distance. In other words, only the particles passing
close to the light will receive a lethal dose of light. For this method to be effective you
will likely need two or more lights in your return air duct.
Both types of lights can also be "ozone generating" or "non-ozone generating". An ozone
generating light produces small amounts of the gas which acts as a natural odor neutralizer.
This is a matter of personal preference and can usually be switched back and forth by
changing light bulbs.
Air Balance / Airflow Analysis
Air Balancing is the process of testing and adjusting your air conditioning system to
deliver the right amount of air to each room in your home. The actual Air Balancing
process includes a number of related tests that determine the performance of your air
conditioning and heating system. Air balancing hoods are used to measure the amount
of air at each grille. Manometers measure system pressures. Hygrometers measure system
temperature and humidity. The results of all these tests are compiled into a report to
determine how well your system is functioning.
Ventilation
Improper ventilation in your home can lead to odors from pets, cooking, smoking, gases and vapors
from carpeting, building materials, cleaning products, stale air resulting from today's energy
efficient "tight" building techniques.
Removal of dust, allergens, and odors can improve your health and the quality of your life.
Environmental Protection Agency lists indoor air quality as the fourth largest environmental threat
to our country.
Typical 1" throw-away filters only trap 5-15% of the pollutents in your home.
Whatever your Indoor Air Quality problem-dust, asthma, allergies, mold, air that's too moist
or too dry, or even hot and cold spots - a whole-house solution can be designed to solve it
once and for all, and in every room of your home.
Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) / Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
An HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) is a device that allows to dump the stale indoor air
and accept fresh outdoor air without losing as much energy as you would if you just
opened a window. This is important in tight new houses to prevent indoor pollutants
from reaching unhealthy levels.
Basically, an HRV is a fan with a heat exchanger: for cooling, the hot outdoor air will
pass its energy to the air leaving the house, for heating, the hot indoor air will
pass its energy to cold outdoor air entering the house.
HRVs only move the heat associated with air temperature difference.
An ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) is a device that does a similar job to an HRV,
but handles both the heat from air temperature and moisture in the air (known as
sensible and latent heat.) Because it exchanges both, they are usually more efficient
and do not have condensation problems that can occur in a HRV. There are two types of
ERVs, linear exchangers similar to HRVs and rotary wheel type systems where media
moves between the air moving in and moving out to transfer the heat and moisture.