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Residential Frequently Asked Questions
1. I see dirt streaks around my registers,
do my ducts need cleaning?
2. How often should I have my ducts cleaned?
3. My air conditioner smells when it starts
up, is there a problem?
4. What are ultraviolet lights and are
they a benefit to me?
5. What is duct leakage testing and how
can it help me?
6. Why do my windows sweat?
7. My bathroom has a window, do I still
need an exhaust fan?
8. How can a Heat Recovery Ventilator help
me?
9. What is mold and fungi?
10. What can cause poor indoor air quality?
11. What can I do to prevent an indoor
air quality problem?
12. Should I order a home mold test kit?
13. Guidelines for Basic Indoor Air Quality
I see dirt streaks around my registers, do my ducts
need cleaning?
No, dirt streaks are almost always caused by poor design.
All air has dirt in it. If the speed (velocity) of the
air
exiting your register is higher than it should be the
dirt is actually impacted on the wall or ceiling surface.
The solution is to reduce the air speed from the register,
and not by partially closing it, but by turning a
damper (if you have one) in the duct going to this register.
Another solution is to add another register
from the same duct serving this register; this reduces
the speed of the air by distributing it to two
registers instead of one. It will also reduce the air
noise coming from the original register.
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How often should I have my ducts cleaned?
Generally the answer would be rarely. We know this sounds
odd, however, duct cleaning is something that is widely
oversold by using scare tactics. Unless your system
has been operated for many years without an air filter
or there has been smoke damage or some other unusual
situation your ducts should not need to be cleaned.
In addition, duct cleaners are not regulated or certified.
Those that claim to be certified are certified by the
duct cleaning organizations they belong to and not by
any regulatory agency. Some duct cleaners are ethical
but beware of those offering cheap specials. It's usually
so they can have an opportunity to use some high pressure
tactics to get you to buy something extra. Professional
duct cleaning takes time and costs money.
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My air conditioner smells when it starts up, is there
a problem?
There could be. This odor is sometimes referred to as
dirty socks syndrome. It is typically caused by dirty
cooling coils that are contaminated with mold. Cleaning
the coil works for a short period of time. The proper
solution is to clean and disinfect the coil and install
an ultraviolet germicidal light source to prevent the
re-contamination of the coil. The addition of this UV
light provides some additional benefits such as better
heat transfer on the coil and a significant reduction
of mold/fungi/bacteria in the air stream.
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What are ultraviolet lights and are they a benefit
to me?
Ultraviolet lights for HVAC systems generate a UV light
in the germicidal band range. The UV light kills the
mold and bacteria by destroying its DNA and stopping
it from reproducing. This can and will improve the indoor
air quality in your home. And, if properly placed near
the cooling coil will help eliminate microbial problems
associated with wet cooling coils.
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What is duct leakage testing and how can it help
me?
Duct leakage testing is simply a proven method of testing
duct systems for air leakage. Studies have proven that
duct systems because of installation related problems,
primarily cloth backed duct tape failure; leak an average
of 20 to 45%. This means that you are paying for heating
and cooling that is not getting into your home and can
be introducing contaminants into your home. This causes
a significant increase in your energy costs and wastes
our precious natural resources. In fact, the California
Energy Commission has banned the use of cloth backed
duct tape on new system installations.
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Why do my windows sweat?
This water is moisture that condenses out of the air
inside your home. This can be caused when you keep your
home to cold or selected rooms to cold. If the dew point
(point at which water condenses) of the air inside your
home is lower than the temperature of the window glass
the moisture in the air inside your home will condense
on the glass. This can cause water damage to wood and
mold related issues. The solution is to increase the
temperature of the air inside the home of specific room.
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My bathroom has a window, do I still need an exhaust
fan?
Even though the bathroom has a window and meets building
codes we find that people do not use the window on a
consistent basis and that moisture builds up resulting
in mold problems. Bathroom fans eliminate this problem.
They should be installed so they operate at least 10
minutes after the bathroom is vacated.
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How can a heat recovery ventilator help me?
Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV's) exhaust moisture and
odors and replace the exhausted air with clean fresh
outside air. The heat content of the air is exchanged
between the airstreams. They are energy efficient and
reduce the possibility of your home being depressurized
when an exhaust fan is operating.
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What is mold and fungi?
Basically mold and fungi are organisms that break down
organic matter such as wood and other cellulose materials.
For more in-depth definition see, IAQ Glossary.
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What can cause poor indoor air quality?
Poor IAQ can be caused by many things such as: poorly
designed HVAC systems, HVAC systems not being properly
operated or maintained, no outside air being brought
into the system, poor air circulation, allowing the
home to become depressurized, not controlling potential
sources of contamination, not fixing water leaks immediately.
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What can I do to prevent an indoor air quality problem?
· First, know your HVAC system and keep all system
documentation.
· Select a competent quality contractor to service
and maintain your equipment.
· Use high quality filters, be sure outside air
is being brought into the system, use exhaust
fans / HRV's to control moisture.
· Keep your home clean, use a HEPA rated vacuum
or central vacuum system. Repair water leaks immediately.
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Should I order a home mold test kit?
Don't waste your money. A home mold test kit typically
includes a fall out plate that you place in your home
or some specific area to determine if mold is present.
The answer is always yes there is mold. The reason is
that there is mold in all air. The missing information
is: How much mold is there? How does the mold species
compare to what is outside?The kit may also contain
a sterile swap to wipe against something. Again, the
quantity is unknown and if mold spores in the air have
settled onto a surface and you swap that area what does
that mean?The only purpose a mold test can serve is
to identify the type of mold that is growing by sending
a sample of it to the lab.
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Mold questions?
Contact Us
Guidelines for Basic Indoor Air Quality
The US EPA, NIOSH and CDC have developed guidelines
for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality.
· Proper ventilation. Document that ventilation
rates are consistent with ASHRAE 62-1999 standards.
· Provide acceptable comfort levels for most
occupants (ASHRAE 55-1991).
· Maintain mechanical equipment and building
surfaces in reasonably sanitary condition.
· Isolate significant emission sources from occupied
spaces.
· Control major sources of contamination promptly.
· Control humidity and moisture intrusion.
· Resolve problems quickly.
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