Air Quality

 

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around structures as it relates to the health and comfort of that structure. (EPA) People spend approximately 90% of their time indoors.  Around 45% of homes in the U.S. have one or more people with asthma or allergies. 

Children are more susceptible to airborne allergens, as they inhale 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults.Indoor air is 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.

-The average home produces 40 pounds of dust annually.

-Each ounce of dust contains around 40,000 dust mites.

72 trillion allergens enter homes every day.

By understanding what these indoor contaminates are, and doing something about it, you can help to reduce the risk of indoor health concerns.

Top 3 Indoor Air Pollutants

  1. Biological Impurities

-Mold/Bacteria

-Dust Mite/Cockroach Particles

-Animal Dander

  1. Combustion Toxins

-Carbon Monoxide

-Nitrogen Dioxide

-Secondhand Smoke

  1. Unstable Organic Compounds

-Paint Gasses

-Pesticides

-Dry-Cleaning Chemicals

Hazards of Indoor Pollution Include:

–Asthma

–Allergies

–Respiratory Infections

–Rashes

–Chronic Headaches

–Lung Cancer

Health effects can show up right after exposure to the pollutants, or can manifest after repeated exposures. 

 

4 Strategies to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

CONTROL THE SOURCE

  • Store combustible materials in a garage.
  • Smoke outside.
  • Use alternative material (that do not contain formaldehyde or dangerous chemicals, etc.)
  • Invest in pest control.

PROPER VENTILATION

  • Use infiltration -Introduce outdoor air into your home.
  • Provide natural outdoor air flow from open windows/doors.
  • Use your home’s exhaust fans (bathroom fan or fan over stove.)
  • Add a mechanical feature to your HVAC system that brings outdoor air into the home.

MAINTAIN YOUR DUCTS

  • Air duct cleaning can remove biological pollutants.
  • Fixing the seals on the ducts will keep contaminates out.
  • Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the HVAC system manufacturer.
  • Change filters regularly.

CLEAN YOUR AIR

  • Air Filtration Systems Can Help
  • 100x more efficient than standard air filters.
  • 8x more effective than HEPA filters.
  • Without effective air filtration, the suspended pollutants are circulated in your air rather than trapping them.

SOLUTIONS FROM TR MILLER:

AccuExchange™ Energy Recovery Ventilator

Improve your home’s indoor environment by exchanging stale indoor air with an equal amount of fresh air. AccuExchange ERV has a high Total Recovery Ratio which means it recovers both heat and moisture from the exchanged air, therefore not sacrificing efficiency or comfort from your heating and cooling system.

AccuClean™ Whole-Home Air Filtration System Highlights

Cleaner air starts with better airflow.  AccuClean removes up to 99.98% of allergens.  Traditional filters force air through dense mesh screens to trap particles. Over time they become clogged and hamper airflow, which results in lower airflow and efficiency, also known as “pressure drop.” But AccuClean gives you long-lasting, consistent performance with the lowest pressure drop and highest efficiency of any filtration system on the market.

Air Duct Cleaning

50% of all illnesses are caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.  If you have a ducted HVAC system The Better Heating-Cooling Council recommends cleaning the air ducts at least once a year.  Cleaning your air ducts can also prevent system failures, as 9 out of 10 failures are caused by dirt and dust.  Air duct cleaning may also be covered by your medical insurance (call them to find out!) 

Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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