Can you help solve the case of lingering odor?
We're glad you asked!
It is no mystery that smells can sometimes linger in a home. New
carpet, fresh paint, even the fish you cooked last Thursday can
be the source of lingering odors. Believe it or not, activities
such as installing new carpet, painting and cooking can contribute
to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Therefore, solving the case
can require more than simply spraying air fresheners and lighting
candles. It's a fact that poor IAQ can lead to more problems than
merely a house that smells funny. That's why air purification
is important to every home, and every person in that home.
Health Concerns
Air purification can be crucial to your health and to the health
of each of you family members. Studies conducted by the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) indicate that your exposure to air pollutants
can be more than 100 times higher indoors than outdoors. "Sick
building syndrome" (SBS), a term many people are familiar with,
costs North America more than $100 billion each year in health
care costs, absenteeism, lost production time and lost revenue.
Bacteria are also the heart of SBS. Chemicals in carpets, household
cleaners, furniture and building materials all contribute to poor
IAQ, as do dust mites, animal dander, cat saliva and mold. To
kill the harmful bacteria caused by these pollutants, it might
be a good idea to "clean the air" with air purification products.
Benefits of Air Purification
It is estimated that 50% of all illnesses are either caused by,
or aggravated by poor indoor air quality. So, clean indoor air
is important. Air purification products provide a variety of methods
to help contribute to a healthier living environment.
One such method is through the use of ultra-violet (UV) lights,
which inhibit the growth of biological contaminants. When installed
in conjunction with your home comfort system, these air purification
devices can eliminate a good portion of the organisms in the treated
area. At the same time, they clean the air filter surface, creating
an environment that inhibits biological contaminants from growing.
Other methods of air purification include the use of activated
carbon and micobiocide treated filters. Activated carbon filters
are more efficient at odor removal, while micobiocide treated
filters are more effective at trapping bacteria as air is filtered
through thereby inhibiting the growth of collected organic pollutants.
How much energy does an Air Purification Device use?
If you're looking for an energy-efficient way to clean the air,
air purification devices just might be the answer you're looking
for. Activated carbon and micobiocide treated filters use no energy,
as they are not electronic devices, and the energy cost to operate
a UV light unit is about the same as operating a 40-watt light
bulb.
Determining if an Air Purification Device is right for
you
If you are wondering whether you are in need of an air purification
device in your home, you might ask yourself these questions:
Is your home sometimes damp? Hot? Humid? Damp, moist environments
are ideal places for biological contaminants to grow. Air purification
devices can help inhibit the growth of these contaminants.
Is anyone in your home particularly sensitive to strong odors,
such as smoke? Air purifiers, especially activated carbon filters,
have been proven to effective at controlling unwanted odors in
the air.
Do you or any family members have allergies or respiratory difficulties?
Mold, mildew and other airborne contaminants can cause people
with allergies or asthma additional discomfort. Through the use
of air purification devices, concentrations of these pollutants
can be considerably reduced.
Installation and Maintenance
UV lights, activated carbon and micobiocide treaded filters are
fairly easy to install and maintain. UV light units are installed
in your ductwork, and the bulbs in the units should be replaced
as is necessary. It is recommended that you change activated carbon
and micobiocide treated filters on a regular basis to prevent
built-up of contaminants.
With the proliferation of products claiming to enhance or eliminate
indoor air quality problems in homes today, make it wise to ask
questions and investigate the issue and solutions carefully. Your
family's health and comfort should be a priority, and working
together, with an indoor air quality contractor can help you provide
your family with a "breath of fresh air".
