- What causes bad indoor air quality?
- How can I prevent poor indoor air quality?
- Please define Sick Building Syndrome.
- Around my registers I see black streaks. Should I get my ducts cleaned?
- Upon starting, my air conditioner produces a smell. What does this mean?
- Basic Indoor Air Quality guidelines
- Do certain HVAC systems produce more IAQ problems than others?
- Would you explain what benefits UV lights provide?
- My windows are sweating. What causes this?
What causes bad indoor air quality? Poor air circulation, improperly operated or maintained HVAC systems, poorly designed HVAC equipment, and not enough outside air being brought into the system can all cause poor indoor air quality. Ignoring an indoor air quality problem will only allow it to worsen. Document all problems and contact qualified professionals to help you resolve problems before air quality deteriorates further. return to top How can I prevent poor indoor air quality? - Keep all HVAC system documentation and know your system.
- Get your equipment serviced by a qualified contractor.
- Keep your system properly maintained.
- Always use high quality filters.
- Ensure that enough outside air is being brought into the system.
- Follow the Uniform Building Code and keep the ventilation fan running whenever the space is occupied.
return to top Please define Sick Building Syndrome. The ASHRAE definition is as follows:
"SICK BUILDING SYNDROME: "SBS" If more than 20 percent of the building occupants complain of such problems as headache, eye irritation, fatigue and dizziness for more than two weeks; if the symptoms are relieved when the complainant leaves the building; and, if no specific cause of the problem can be identified." (ASHRAE Journal, July 1988, p.40) return to top Around my registers I see black streaks. Should I get my ducts cleaned? No, poor air register design is responsible. The air is traveling at too great a speed when exiting the register, causing dirt contained in the air to adhere to the wall surface. You can reduce airflow from the register by turning a damper in the duct or adding another register from the same duct. return to top Upon starting, my air conditioner produces a smell. What does this mean? This could be caused by dirty cooling coils that contain mold. Short-term, cleaning the coil provides a good solution. Install an ultraviolet germicidal light to keep the coil from becoming re-contaminated, and clean and disinfect the coil. Using the ultraviolet light reduces bacteria, mold and fungi in the air stream and provides increased heat transfer in the coil. return to top Basic Indoor Air Quality guidelines The CDC, US EPA, and NIOSH all have developed guidelines for better indoor air quality. - Ensure sufficient ventilation. Check that ventilation rates correspond with ASHRAE 62-1999 standards.
- Keep building surfaces and mechanical equipment in sanitary condition.
- Provide acceptable comfort levels for most occupants (ASHRAE 55-1991).
- Control moisture intrusion and humidity.
- If you detect problems, get them fixed promptly.
- Keep significant emission sources away from occupied spaces.
- Promptly eliminate sources of contamination.
- Minimize occupants' exposure to construction or maintenance activities.
- Educate all occupants about air quality issues.
- Keep records of any problems.
return to top Do certain HVAC systems produce more IAQ problems than others? Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems do tend to have more complaints than constant volume HVAC systems. VAV systems, regardless of the number of occupants, vary the airlow to match the actual load. A properly functioning constant volume system provides a constant airflow and a consistent level of outside air for dilution. Contact us for more information on how to correct this problem. return to top Would you explain what benefits UV lights provide? You can improve your home's air quality by installing a UV light. These lights for HVAC systems kill bacteria and mold, by stopping its reproduction and destroying its DNA. Placed near the cooling coil, UV lights can eradicate microbes that are associated with wet cooling coils. return to top My windows are sweating. What causes this? If you keep your home too cold moisture condenses out of the air. Since the dew point of your indoor air is is lower than the window glass' temperature, moisture condenses on the windows. This is a serious problem that can create mold and wood damage problems. To resolve this issue, increase the air temperature inside the rooms that exhibit this problem. return to top
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