Indoor Air Quality FAQ

The following Indoor Air Quality questions and answers are the courtesy of Venmar.

What is IAQ
IAQ is an acronym for Indoor Air Quality. IAQ is a cause for concern much more than it was in the past, since improved insulation and other energy-saving measures have meant poorer air circulation for many homes and buildings. Scientific research shows that indoor air can be up to 5 times more polluted than the air outside.

A well-sealed building does not have to have poor IAQ. However, with proper ventilation and air circulation, a building can maintain excellent air quality that can help improve the health of those inside.

What problems are caused by poor IAQ?
With poor IAQ, the same air born particles are circulated continuously throughout the building. This can lead to an unhealthy and uncomfortable indoor environment and put you and your family's health at risk. Resulting problems can range from recurring flus and aggravated allergies to persistent coughs, headaches, and poor concentration. Statistics show that 1 out of 3 North American families has at least 1 person who suffers from some sort of respiratory ailment.

Another common problem that can result from poor IAQ is humidity. Trapped moisture can, over time, lead to serious structural damage to your home. Recently, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning reported that 90% of all building failures are related to moisture

Does your home have an air quality problem?
Different homes have different problem areas. For some homes, it might be as serious as high humidity in the attic that's eating its way through the roof, while for others, it might be simply a poorly ventilated kitchen that causes unwanted lingering odors. Many homes have an overly humid basement which breeds molds and other unhealthy micro organisms.

What do the experts say?
Many doctors and Associations believe that effective and efficient mechanical ventilation is an important part of a healthy indoor environment.

Three Basic Strategies
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the three basic strategies to reduce indoor air pollutants are:
  • Source Control
  • Ventilation
  • and Air Filtration.

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STRATEGY CONTROL
Source control is the elimination of the individual sources of pollution. This involves taking steps such as:

  • Regular servicing of combustion appliance decrease combustion emissions
  • Eliminating smoking indoors
  • Using low emission paints
  • Keeping pets outside

Venmar also has effective local solutions for specific areas of the household to control individual sources of air pollutants.

Kitchen
We have a complete line of range hoods that remove odors and steam, filter grease and pollutants, and best of all, are easy to clean.
Attic
Want to prevent the deterioration of your roof? Venmar attic ventilators help eliminate heat in the summer and reduce condensation in the winter. By reducing the constant expansion and contraction that results from humidity in the attic, an attic ventilator can help prevent structural damage and prolong the life of your roof.
Basement
Turn your stuffy, poorly ventilated basement into a more comfortable environment with a Venmar Air Extractor Dehumidifier. It helps control the growth of molds and mildew in your basement and prevents a variety of indoor contaminants from spreading. What's more, by eliminating excess moisture, a basement ventilator can prevent dry rot in your walls as well as structural damage to your home.

Bathroom
Humidity emitted from today's larger bathrooms - especially those with whirlpools or spas - creates a special ventilation challenge to ordinary fans. Problems such as mold, mildew, and peeling paint can be prevented with a proper fan.


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STRATEGY II - VENTILATION
Ventilation is the introduction of outside air into the home, which dilutes the air pollutants in your home and revitalizes stale air. While ventilation is a very good means of lowering the concentration of indoor air pollutants, few home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, mechanically bring fresh air into the house. This is because most systems are more concerned with air temperature than actual air quality. Venmar, on the other hand, has your whole health and well-being in mind.

Venmar's Advanced Ventilation Series (AVS) has a unit that's right for your home ventilation needs.

The
The AVS DUO also known as the "Health Conscious" system, provides year-round ventilation while filtering out indoor contaminants and allergens. This is an energy-recovering system that transfers both heat and moisture from one air stream to another for minimal ventilation costs.

STRATEGY III - FILTRATION
Filtration is the process of cleaning the air using different filtration devices. Because our homes are sealed up to conserve energy, we are circulating, again, the same airborne particles and bacteria over and over.

Our AFS (advanced Filtration Series) product line is highly effective for the removal of airborne particles. The AFS HEPA filters for example, removes 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns or greater. With a whole-house AFS HEPA or HP filter, you can significantly reduce the number of lung-damaging airborne particles in your home.


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THE IDEAL COMBINATION = VENTILATION + FILTRATION
To get the best of both worlds, we recommend a combination of an Advanced Ventilation System (AVS) with an Advanced Filtration System (AFS) from Venmar.

Proper ventilation ensures you will be getting the freshest possible air, while a state-of-the-art filtration system keeps those unwanted air particles out. The air you breathe is constantly circulated for optimum freshness while being simultaneously cleaned, for the healthiest possible air. Venmar keeps the air you breathe clean.

Indoor Air Quality Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should the ideal humidity level be in my house?
The ideal humidity in winter should be between 30% and 40%. In the summer, it should be between 60% and 80%. Since each person is different, the level may vary slightly.

Q: How is humidity produced?
Most of the humidity in your house is a result of people, baths, showers, cooking, pets, aquariums and heating wood in the basement.

Q: All ventilation systems are measured in CFMs. What does CFM mean?
CFM is the acronym for "cubic feet per minute". This unit is necessary to measure the ventilation capacity of a room or a house in order to conform to HVI (Home Ventilation Institute) standards.

Q: We indicate the sonar level of appliances in sones.
What is a sone? A sone is similar to the sound that an ordinary refrigerator makes
in a quiet kitchen. The higher the sone level the noisier the ventilation.

Q: I don't have any heath problems, should I be worried about the IAQ of my house?
Even if you and your family feel well, pollutants and allergens are always present in the air. Over time, they may affect your health, cause serious health problems and even cause you to develop allergies. To protect yourself, the replacement of fresh air is necessary.
Different building codes in North America suggest that the replacement of interior air should occur once every three hours, while certain international codes recommend air replacement every two hours.

Q: I don't have humidity problems. What are the advantages of having a ventilation system?
Ventilation systems take care of humidity problems as well as those related to air quality. Opening the windows of your house will not only change the air; it will also allow pollutants (pollen, allergens, etc.) to enter your environment. A central ventilation system filters the air particles, which enter your house.

Q: A member of my family has asthma. Can a ventilation system help?
Studies clearly show that the air quality of your house effects your health. It is therefore important to remove most pollutants and humidity.

Q: Where can I find more information on IAQ?
Many associations and government agencies have information on their web sites. Check out our list in the Industry Links section.

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