Alternative Information

Why Air Purifiers Are Not Always The Answer To Indoor Air Quality Problems


Air purifier filters are not always the answer to air quality problems.

Solving the problem is a much better approach than masking the symptom.

The following are the basic approaches to improve indoor air quality;

1) Eliminate or control the pollutant source.

2) Dilution of the contaminants through ventilation.

3) Removal or reduction of the contaminants through filtration or purification with the use of air purifier filters or air purifiers.

Proper ventilation in a building is a must!

Before the energy crunch in the 1970's, fresh air in buildings was not really an issue.

When energy costs started to rise, we started making our buildings more energy efficient with better insulation and sealing techniques that made the building tighter, reducing the amount of fresh air into the buildings and increasing indoor pollution.

After indoor air quality issues came to the surface, we learned how to reduce energy costs while not compromising the health of the occupants, through the practice of building science.

Great strides have been made in this area, leading to more comfortable, healthier, safer homes.

The goal of good ventilation is to bring in the right amount of fresh air, not too much or not too little.

This is accomplished by using mechanical ventilation (exhaust fans, energy recovery units, etc.) that are sized to the volume of the house and/or according to lifestyle.

Mechanical ventilation not only dilutes contaminants but also removes excess moisture that can become a mold problem if not properly addressed.

Moisture can show up as high humidity (under-ventilated bathrooms, indoor pools or hot tubs and very tight homes) or water that enters a building either from the outside (rainwater) or from undetected plumbing leaks.

Addressing these problems using the right approach, elimination or control of the source (in this case repair the leak from the outside or finding and repairing the plumbing leak) makes more sense than trying to rid the mold with air purifier filters or air purifiers.

Pollutants such as formaldahyde and benzene can be produced from certain furniture, carpets, plywood and drapes. Other sources of benzene are gas cans, gas powered lawn mowers that are stored in garages that are attached to the house.

If elimination of these sources is not an option an air purification device would be the obvious choice.

Toilets, air conditioning coils, heating/cooling ducts and humans are producers of bacteria. The right plan in these cases would be an air purifier device.

Carbon Monoxide is caused by incomplete combustion of appliances that depend on combustion to operate.

ELIMINATION IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER WHEN IT COMES TO CARBON MONOXIDE!

FIND THE PROBLEM-FIX THE PROBLEM!

Leave this to a company that is well-versed in carbon monoxide.

Pet and human dander are controlled through proper humidity control (mechanical ventilation) and air purifier filters.

By using the combination of source control (elimination), ventilation (dilution) and good air purifier filters and/or purification system ,your environment will be much heatlthier.

For air quality info visit www.expert-air-purifier-reviews.com

About the Author:

A pioneer in residential contracting, Ed is a thirty-year industry veteran trained in the "House Is A System" approach to HVAC design. He was formerly a building analyst instructor, providing certification training for New York's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program.


MORE RESOURCES:

TAKE TWO: An alternative look at the day in sports
Columbia Daily Tribune
Like many of you, I couldn't resist reading the naughty text messages Tiger Woods allegedly sent to Joslyn James, the pornographic film ...

and more »


For alt rocker Jeff Tweedy, growing up's a fine alternative
MiamiHerald.com
Tweedy's musical journey started in the early '90s, when he co-founded the seminal alternative country band Uncle Tupelo. That group broke up in 1994, ...

and more »


Washington Post

Alternative spring breaks connect with college students
Washington Post
"Alternative spring breaks" are diverting a growing number of college students from a week of sloth and excess in Florida to study post-election violence in ...
Alternative Spring BreakThe Eastern Progress Online (subscription)
Students reach out as part of Alternative Spring BreakCampus Times
Alternative spring break trip alters livesEagle News
Orlando Sentinel -Jaunted -The Emory Wheel
all 32 news articles »


Alternative core CPI measures unchanged in Feb.
MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Core inflation was flat in February, according to two alternative methods of figuring underlying inflation that don't ...

and more »


New North Inc. capitalizes on emerging alternative energy industry in ...
Oshkosh Northwestern
When Jerry Murphy sees a power-generating wind turbine, he sees a business opportunity and hopes ...

and more »


The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com

Prom Dress Day offers cheaper alternative to prom dress shopping
The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com
Jon's Bridal by Suzanne PhotoJon's Bridal by Suzanne, in Allentown, is donating 80 new dresses for this year's Prom Dress Day at the State ...

and more »


Motorola Droid alternative to iPhone
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
... with the AT&T/Apple iPhone juggernaut, offers an intriguing alternative for people who want a phone that offers many of the same benefits of the iPhone. ...

and more »


Emirates Business 24/7

UAE Stocks Seen Surging If Dubai Government Backs Debt Plan
ABC News
... but if there's a government guarantee the market will fly," said Haissam Arabi, chief executive at Gulfmena Alternative Investments. ...
DW plan to boost UAE boursesEmirates Business 24/7
Equity rally running out of steam UAE StocksGulfNews

all 20 news articles »


An Alternative to 'Alternative' Assets
Wall Street Journal
Public pensions are increasingly asking a question that has haunted investors since the financial crisis: When is an alternative investment ...

and more »


Indian Express

Auto drivers will be given better alternative: Dikshit
Sify
'The autos can only be phased out, when we give them (drivers) a better alternative to shift, like the way we gave it to bus drivers to use CNG. ...
'Auto phase-out without alternative not viable'Press Trust of India
Autos must be phased out: Delhi CMTimes of India
Sheila wants autos phased outDaily Pioneer
Indian Express
all 202 news articles »

Google News

Index | Site map
© 2009 VirBooks  Home
PLAE  | Solar System