The Clean Air Act Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Indoor Air Quality’

Why Choose a Whole Home Dehumidifier?

Monday, January 7th, 2013

If you want to be truly comfortable in your Portland home you must do more than just maintain comfortable temperature levels. You must also do all that you can to improve and maintain the quality of the air that you breathe. A big mistake that many homeowners make when it comes to the indoor air quality in their homes is to convince themselves that a certain problem with their air quality is too minor or unimportant to do anything about. Other times they simply choose the wrong tool for the job. At The Clean Air Act we want to help you make your home a more comfortable, safer place to live.

Excessively moist air is one great example of a serious problem that many homeowners do not handle in the most effective way possible. A lot of homeowners will purchase a standalone, single room dehumidifier in order to resolve the humidity problem in their homes. A whole home dehumidifier, though, is a much better solution for your humidity problems.

Excess moisture in the air that you breathe is a more serious issue than many people realize. Yes, it does lead to stuffy, uncomfortable air. Overly humid air can also cause wood rot, though, as well as promote the growth of biological pollutants such as mold.

There is simply no way for a single room dehumidifier to remove enough moisture from your home to eliminate these risks if you have too much humidity in the air. It may make the room that it is in more comfortable, but chances are that if one room’s air is too damp there are other points in your home that suffer from the same issue.

A whole home dehumidifier is installed directly into your home heating and cooling system. That means that you do not need to have multiple dehumidifiers littering your home. Not only are whole home dehumidifiers much more convenient than single room devices, they are much more effective.

If you are concerned about humidity levels in your Portland home, contact the indoor air quality experts at The Clean Air act. Our whole home dehumidification systems and services can help you breathe better, higher quality air. Contact The Clean Air Act to schedule service today.

Tags: Dehumidifiers, Indoor Air Quality, Portland
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Will an Air Cleaner Work with My Heating and Cooling System?

Monday, December 17th, 2012

Comfortable temperatures are a great luxury and necessary to maintaining the quality of life that you deserve in Beaverton. The heating and air conditioning professionals at The Clean Air Act, though, believe that comfortable temperatures are just the beginning to the total comfort that you deserve. We know that the quality of the air that you breathe is just as important as the temperature, which is why we offer great indoor air quality products such as air cleaners for installation in your home. Contact us today for more information about improving the quality of your indoor air.

An air cleaner can be easily incorporated into most any forced air heating and air conditioning system. Whole-house air cleaners, including mechanical filters and UVGI devices, are installed directly into the ductwork of a forced air heating and cooling system. Because all of the air that your system heats and cools is dispersed throughout this system an in-duct installation allows all of this air to be filtered or otherwise cleaned.

These types of air filters and cleaners are really necessary with forced air systems for a few different reasons. To begin with, while all houses have a certain amount of dirt and dust within them, homes using forced air heating and air conditioning systems have this dirt and dust stirred up the circulating air. Once the pollutants are airborne they can be pulled into the ductwork and redistributed throughout the house. If they are allowed to settle within the air ducts they can cause efficiency problems with your heating and air conditioning system.

If you use a forced air heating and cooling system in your Beaverton home you should have some sort of air cleaner in place. To learn more about the integration of an air cleaner into your heating and cooling system call The Clean Air Act. We will be able to answer any questions that you may have.

Tags: Air Cleaner, Beaverton, Indoor Air Quality
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How to Get Adequate Air Filtration with a Ductless Mini Split

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Are you concerned about indoor air quality in your Portland area home? Many homeowners question the air filtration capabilities of a ductless mini split as opposed to a forced air system. While you get cleaner air without the use of air ducts, a forced air system does draw in and recycle the air so that there is some filtration; however, dirty ductwork can compromise this benefit.

Call The Clean Air Act to learn more about how to get adequate air filtration with a ductless mini split. First, here are some factors to keep in mind.

Air Filters

All ductless mini split systems come with a hypo-allergenic air filter. It is important to change these once a month during the heating or cooling season. If you only have a ductless mini split AC system but another type of heating system, then you will need to change the filters on your heating system as needed.

Air Cleaners

You can also install electronic and mechanical air cleaners to help filter the air inside your home. These will help filter the air along with the ductless system’s filter. HEPA filters are not designed for standard home heating and cooling systems.

Humidifiers and De-humidifiers

While proper moisture control is important for indoor air quality, it is a good idea to speak with a Portland indoor air quality specialist to go over the different types of humidifiers and dehumidifiers work best with a ductless system.

If you would like to know more, contact The Clean Air Act for all your Portland OR indoor air quality needs.

Tags: Air Cleaners, Dehumidifiers, Humidifiers, Indoor Air Quality, Portland
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What Air Filtration System is Right for Me?

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

Are you trying to decide which air filtration system is right for your home? Call the Milwaukie OR indoor air quality experts at The Clean Air Act, Inc. We offer a variety of Aprilaire air filtration systems, including a wide selection of whole-home air cleaners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilation systems to provide you with whole home comfort. We will be more than happy to help you select the model that fits your needs the most.

Whether you are having issues with dust mites, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, mold spores, or another indoor air pollutant, we can find the right system for you. Depending on your needs, you may want to choose an electronic media filter, or you can find models that combine the efficiency of media filters and electronic ionization. You’ll definitely want to select an air cleaner that matches your forced air heating and AC system.

Most Aprilaire air cleaners are installed on the air handler, and your contractor will know how to properly size and install the model we help you choose. Keep in mind that media air cleaners are designed to remove airborne contaminants as they through the duct system, which is why they are installed as part of your home comfort system. They use a true HEPA filter to clean the air inside your home.

The standard air filters that are a part of your forced air system are not designed to filter particles as efficiently, so it is best to get an air cleaning system to help provide ultimate protection against problems related to allergies and asthma.

Don’t hesitate to call the Milwaukie, OR indoor air quality specialists at Clean Air Act to help you choose the right air filtration for your home. Contact The Clean Air Act Inc. today!

Tags: Air Filtration, Indoor Air Quality, Milwaukie
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What Can an Air Cleaner Filter Inside My Home?

Monday, November 26th, 2012

What is one thing that you need at every moment of every day? It’s air! You breathe in about 400 cubic feet of air every day. That’s about 35 pounds of air every single day. Many of us spend most of our time indoors which means that the air we breathe is provided to us by an air conditioning or heating system.

When you’re at home, you want to make sure that all the air you breathe is as clean as possible. The EPA says that indoor air quality is one of the top five dangers to respiratory health. That’s why it’s important to have a good indoor air quality system in your home. Below we’ve outlined some air quality issues that an air cleaner or other IAQ system can help improve the air quality inside your Oregon City home.

Allergens

If the air inside your home is too dry in the winter, the air can cause all kinds of allergy-related irritation. When it’s dry, you tend to create more dust from dry skin. Without moisture in the air, allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander can travel freely through the air and into your respiratory system.

Viruses

Viruses are another type of air-born problem that can be associated with poor air quality. These can be solved by installing UV germicidal lights in your home.

Asthma

In poor air quality situations, asthma related irritations can flare up. Not only is this due to increased dust levels, but also because of dry air.

Dry Skin and Throat

Without moisture, the mucous membranes in your throat and nasal passages can dry out. With proper humidity, these air passages offer our bodies a defense against viruses and infections. This can also lead to bloody noses and scratchy throats.

How Indoor Air Quality Systems Can Help

Indoor air quality systems can do a number of things for your home. When you have an indoor air cleaner, like a filter or an electrostatic system, they can help remove dust particles, bacteria, mold spores and even viruses from your air.

On top of that, some models also include humidity control features. In a dry climates, this can be almost as important. Properly humidified homes are more comfortable to live in and can be potentially cleaner.

If you’re having problems with the indoor air quality in your Oregon City home, then call the experts at The Clean Air Act.

Tags: Air Cleaner, Indoor Air Quality, Oregon City
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What Type of HEPA Filter Should I Buy?

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Are you concerned about allergens and indoor air contaminants inside your home? While there’s a lot of information about HEPA filters out there, there are still a lot of questions we get from Portland area customers about indoor air quality and HEPA filters. Many of these questions are about how to choose the right HEPA filter for their air cleaner or HVAC system. If you have further questions, feel free to give the indoor air quality experts at The Clean Air Act.

Meanwhile, here’s some basic information about HEPA filters and how you can determine which one is the most cost-effective for your home. Keep in mind that there are different ratings for the different types of materials for media filters.

Most mechanical air cleaners use some type of HEPA filter, and the efficiency of the filter is determined by how effectively it can filter the type of contaminants you are trying to eliminate from your home. While an electronic air cleaner uses an ionizer to attract microscopic particles, a mechanical air cleaner will use a particle filter to trap larger ones. The efficiency is measured by a number called the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), and if you want a standard filter that will get the job done, look for a MERV of at least 5, or between 7 and 13 for a slightly more efficient filter. A true HEPA filter will have a MERV between 17 and 20.

While HEPA filters are designed to remove several indoor air pollutants, such as pollen, pet hair, dust mites, mold spores, and other irritants, they are not designed for use in a home heating and air conditioning system. This is due to their size and shape, but you can find true HEPA filters for most mechanical air cleaners. Check your owner’s manual or ask your contractor when you have the air cleaner installed.

Call the Portland indoor air quality experts at The Clean Air Act with all your questions about HEPA filters. We can help by going over all the different options so that you make an informed decision.

Tags: Air Cleaners, Indoor Air Quality, Portland
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How Do I know if I need a Dehumidifier or Humidifier?

Monday, November 12th, 2012

Humidity is a critical factor in your home in Beavercreek. Most people know that the winter is dry while the summer tends to be more humid. While there are many humidity control products available on the market, few people know how to tell if they need more or less humidity in their home. Here at Clean Air Act, we thought it would be helpful for the community in Beavercreek if we put together a quick checklist so you can know if you need more or less moisture in your home.

Why is Humidity So Important

Humidity in your Beavercreek homes plays a large part in how comfortable you are there. Humidity can impact your health as well as the quality of the air inside your home. For example, when your home is too humid, dust mites and mold can thrive. If the air is too dry, it can also cause your wood furniture to dry out and crack.

Too Little Humidity

There are a number of indications that you might have too little moisture in your air.

If you start to notice that your lips or hands are drying out, this probably means that the humidity in your home is too low. You may also notice that your throat and nasal passages are dry as well. This could result in a cough or a bloody nose.
The increase of static electricity in your home is more evidence of low humidity. If this is the case, you’ll notice that you get shocked when you walk across your home or that your clothing sticks to you.

Too Much Humidity

Here are a few indicators that you have too much humidity in your home.

Too much moisture can make your home feel stuffy and uncomfortable.
If you notice an increase in mold growth around your home, that can also mean you have too much moisture in your air.

Hydrometer

If you really want to be sure if your air is too dry or too moist, a hydrometer can be useful. Hydrometers, as you can probably guess, measure how much water is in the air as a percentage. On rainy days, a properly calibrated hydrometer would indicate a 90% humidity level.

If you would like more information about humidity control systems for your home in Beavercreek, then call the experts at Clean Air Act. We can help you measure the current humidity levels in your home and let you know if a humidity control product is right for you.

Tags: Beavercreek, Dehumidifier, Humidifier, Indoor Air Quality
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Benefits of High Efficiency, Small Ductwork HVAC Systems

Monday, October 29th, 2012

High efficiency small ductwork systems, also called high velocity mini duct systems, are a relatively new technology in the heating and air conditioning. While the general concept is the same as traditional forced air system, the small systems provide some attractive benefits to homeowners. Below we explore some of the benefits to the high velocity mini duct systems and how you can take advantage of them in your home in Portland.

What is a High Efficiency Small Ductwork HVAC System

The mini duct systems work in almost the same way that traditional forced air system do. They use a central air handler to pump air through a series of ducts that terminate into a register in each room. However, the biggest difference is that they’re smaller. With a smaller duct, the high velocity systems gain several advantages which we explore below.

Greater Efficiency

There are several benefits to the smaller size of the duct and the high velocity of the air traveling through it.

Reduced Surface Area – With about 65% less surface area that traditional ductwork, there is less room for heat to leave the air. The greatly increases the efficiency of the mini duct system.
Unique Construction – Because of the way that the small ducts are built, they are almost air tight. This means that while the air is traveling through the duct, less of it is escaping. You get more of the air that you paid to heat or cool delivered to each of your rooms.
Air speed – The air moves through the smaller ducts much quicker than in traditional box ductwork. Less time spent in the duct means that there is less time for the air to lose its heat energy.

Reduced Space Requirements

Another obvious benefit is that high velocity mini duct systems require less space. Mini duct systems can fit into walls where traditional ducting could never fit. Mini systems are perfect for retrofitting older homes that lack the attic space for ductwork. Mini duct systems use about 1/3 of the amount of space as traditional ducting.

If you have any questions about high velocity mini duct systems and if they’re the right choice for your home in Portland, give the experts at Clean Air Act a call today.

Tags: Indoor Air Quality, Portland
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How do I choose the right air cleaner for my home?

Monday, October 15th, 2012

At Clean Air Act, we provide a multitude of air purification systems to help improve indoor air quality in your Oregon City home. The standard filters that are installed in your heating and cooling system may not be enough if you suffer from allergies or other respiratory issues. If you aren’t sure which type of air cleaner will meet your indoor air quality needs, just give us a call to set up a consultation. Here’s some information to get you started.

Air cleaners are installed to work with your central heating and air conditioning system. Many homeowners choose either an electronic or mechanical air cleaner, since they each target different contaminants. Chronic allergy suffers choose mechanical air filters since they are more cost-effective and target the more common indoor allergens, such as pet dander, pollen, and mold spores. Electronic air cleaners are more expensive but target smaller particles, so it is important to know what type of irritants you wish to eliminate.

Some people choose to install both types of air cleaners, in addition to a UV germicidal light to help kill bacteria and viruses. The type of air filtration system you choose really depends on your specific needs and your budget. If you are unable to eliminate the source of the problem (people with pets, for instance), then you may one to consider one of these different combinations of air cleaners.

Keep in mind that air cleaners cannot eliminate radon or get rid of mold in the home. Mold remediation and radon mitigation should be handled by a professional. We also offer radon testing and remediation for homeowners throughout the area.

Call Clean Air Act, the Oregon City indoor air quality experts if you have questions about improving the air quality inside your home

Tags: Air Cleaners, Beavercreek, Indoor Air Quality, Oregon City, Portland, UV Light Air Cleaning
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Top 5 Reasons to Install an Indoor Air Quality System

Monday, October 8th, 2012

We spend a lot of our time indoors—whether it’s sleeping and eating or just relaxing with our friends and family. In Portland, we tend to have pretty clean air. But what you may not realize is that your indoor air is often more polluted than the air outside. In fact, poor indoor air quality is the fourth largest environmental threat to our country, according to the EPA. Here are a few reason why you should invest in an indoor air quality system:

Allergy relief

For any of your family members who suffer from allergies, having an indoor air quality system can trap pollen and pet dander that would otherwise irritate them. Indoor air cleaners like media filters, electronic and HEPA filters are specifically designed to capture exactly those kinds of contaminants. Installing an air cleaner in your air handler may reduce the effect that pollen and pet dander have on your family.

Reduces amount of dust and contaminants in the air

Dust can also be a respiratory irritant and can accumulate on your furniture. Media filters installed in your heating and air conditioning system can trap dust and remove it from your indoor air leaving your house cleaner. Electronic air cleaners ionize the air to filter out smaller particles like smoke and exhaust fumes.

Removes bacteria and viruses

Electronic and HEPA filters can also capture microscopic bacteria and viruses before you can even breathe them in. This can reduce the number of illnesses that occur in your home. Additionally, an ultra-violet germicidal light can further increase the purity of your home’s air by killing germs inside your ductwork before they can recirculate into your home.

Allows fresh air inside

Part of a good air purity system is to make sure it is properly ventilated. By increasing the “tightness” of your home—how much air your home lets in—you can control exactly where the air in your home comes from. By properly ventilating your house, you can continually cycle in fresh air from outside.

Keeps humidity constant

A house that has too much or too little humidity can cause you a lot of problems. With too much humidity, your house can become a breeding ground for mold. It can also make it difficult to breath in your house. But too little humidity can cause your nasal passages, skin and even your furniture to dry out and crack. With a humidity control system from Clean Air Act, you can kep your humidity at the perfect level—around 30-50%.

For more information on how an indoor air quality system can benefit your Portland home, contact the professionals at Clean Air Act today!

Tags: Air Cleaning, Indoor Air Quality, Oregon City, Portland, UV Light Air Cleaning
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