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Chris Cotter
Chris Cotter is the General Manager of SEK Heat & Air, Inc. in Pittsburg, KS. Chris has worked in the HVAC industry for 15 years and first joined SEK in 1996. SEK has been serving residential and commercial customers in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma since 1994, providing sales and service of Conventional and Geo-thermal systems. Call Chris today to learn more about heating and cooling your home in a clean and efficient way at 620-215-3124, by e-mail at Info@SekHeatandAir.com, or visit www.SekHeatandAir.com.
Heating & Air Conditioning
2012-03-27 10:28:15
Improving indoor air quality
A: Absolutely. I will try to provide as much information as possible. Here are the top considerations: •Have your HVAC system serviced and cleaned. If you have a regular HVAC company, ask them about what they recommend based on what they observe within your system. •Check your ventilation. Homes today are built “tighter” and have fewer air leaks than older homes. Without proper ventilation, indoor air pollution builds up. Most residential central air conditioning and heating systems are closed, which means that the air re-circulates inside the envelope of the structure. In homes, windows and doors provide manual intentional ventilation when it is desired. Unless ventilation is incorporated into the HVAC system, leaks in the home or building “envelope” to the outside are the only steady source of fresh air. It may be necessary to install a fresh air exchanger. •Consider air filters and air purifiers. This can be either a whole house system or portable devices. It is important to note that different types of systems and filters will remove different types of pollutants, so be sure to check the specifications of your system and match it to your needs. •Humidity control is another important consideration. Depending on the “envelope” of your home, you may or may not need to consider adding a humidifier or dehumidifier to stabilize the air quality and prevent mold. The EPA recommends indoor humidity should range between 30% and 50%. Indoor air quality is a growing concern. The EPA suggests that indoor air quality may be up to 70 times worse than outdoor air quality. These are some common contaminates: •Burning candles •Building materials •Fabric softener •Dry-cleaned clothing •Cleaners •Air fresheners •Hobby supplies, such as glue and paint •New furniture and draperies •Cigarette smoke •Pollen •Mold •Pet dander With asthma and allergies more prevalent than ever, it is essential to consider all of the factors affecting your indoor air quality.
 
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