Popular Indoor Air Quality Services

<div class=article-entry><img alt= class=attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image height=1709 loading=lazy sizes=(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px src=https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2020/05/Bell-Brothers-Heating-Air-Heating-scaled.jpg srcset=https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2020/05/Bell-Brothers-Heating-Air-Heating-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2020/05/Bell-Brothers-Heating-Air-Heating-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2020/05/Bell-Brothers-Heating-Air-Heating-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dcr-apis.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/wp_contents/uploads/2020/05/Bell-Brothers-Heating-Air-Heating-768x513.jpg 768w width=2560/><div class=featured-caption></div>Indoor air quality projects address a wide range of areas and problems, from duct cleaning to asbestos removal. The most commonly requested indoor air quality services are:Infiltrometer Testing This immensely useful test is often the first step in air quality improvement. An infiltrometer is a device created by the U.S. Department of Energy to tests airtightness and identify air leaks. It is set up in an outside doorway and creates a 15 MPH wind on all sides of your home, using sensors to determine the precise locations of any internal air leaks. The test only takes about an hour, and once leaks are pinpointed, they can be sealed using fiber-reinforced elastomeric sealants. This quick fix pays for itself by lowering utility bills, evening temperature distribution throughout the house and preventing contaminated air from infiltrating your home.Installation of Air Purification Systems One of the best ways to ensure the air you breathe is healthy and safe is installing an air purification system. Unlike a filtration system, which simply filters out airborne particles, a purification system uses ultraviolet light or an electrical charge to actually clean the air, removing irritants, contaminants, pollutants, germs, viruses, mold and other elements down to 0.01 microns in size. In such a system, larger particles are first removed through filtration, then smaller particles are irradiated or electrically charged, which effectively removes them from the air.Air Duct Cleaning Your ductwork is the delivery system for cooled or heated air, and if it is dirty or blocked, it can’t delivery air efficiently. The ductwork in many homes is plugged with years of built-up debris, mold, mildew, pet dander, dust and dirt. Your ducts should be inspected at least every two years for defects and cleanliness, and your entire duct system should be cleaned every five to seven years, depending on indoor air quality factors such as the age of your home and the presence of pets.Air Duct, Garage, Attic and Thermal Bypass Sealing Air duct leaks are common and result in a drastic decrease in HVAC efficiency and much higher utility bills. Similarly, improperly sealed garages, attics and thermal bypasses allow outdoor air to leak into your indoor environment, compromising temperature distribution and control. Your contractor can locate any leaks using an infiltrometer test and then seal them using fiber-reinforced elastomeric sealants. This quick, relatively inexpensive fix pays for itself by lowering utility bills and provides the added benefit of evening temperature distribution throughout the house.Routine HVAC System Maintenance Just like an automobile, your heating and air conditioning system needs a regular tune-up, especially when heading into high activity seasons like summer and winter. In addition to ensuring your unit is working as efficiently as possible, this will reduce the likelihood that your HVAC system will break down when you need it most.Installation of Energy-Efficient Replacement Heating or Air Conditioning Units Like all other appliances, heating and air conditioning systems wear out over time, resulting in loss of efficiency, higher utility bills and lack of effective climate control. Properly sized, energy-efficient replacement units come with enhanced features such as humidity sensors, customized room-to-room control and air purification/filtration options. In addition, they help eliminate uneven temperature distribution, improve ventilation and can reduce pressure imbalances. If your HVAC system has more than 12 years of use and you don’t intend to sell your home for a few years, a new system will provide a safer, more comfortable and reliable alternative.Asbestos Removal Asbestos is found most often in steam pipes, boilers, furnace ducts, flooring, roofing and siding in homes built before the 1970s. The danger of asbestos only arises when it is tampered with or deteriorates, which releases asbestos fibers into the air. Airborne asbestos fibers are known to increase the risk of lung cancer and cause scarring of the lungs. If you suspect your home contains asbestos and you are unsure of the condition of the material, the best thing to do is leave it alone and call an indoor air quality professional who can assess the situation and provide removal services if necessary. In some cases, if the asbestos bearing material is intact, tampering with and removing it poses a more serious health hazard than leaving it untouched.Carbon Monoxide Testing Even at a low level, carbon monoxide leaks can have lasting health implications, and consumer detection units are less reliable and ill-equipped to detect low level CO leaks. Leaks can come from a variety of sources involving combustion or burning, such as gas heaters, chimneys and furnaces, gas stoves, automobile exhaust or old boilers. Such leaks are virtually undetectable without the proper equipment and can lead to fatigue and chest pain at low levels, and impaired vision, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and death in high concentrations. The typical consumer CO detector only lasts two to four years and gradually loses its effectiveness, leaving you vulnerable to undetected leaks. A qualified indoor air quality contractor will have the equipment to detect and locate even the smallest CO leak, eliminating this common home health hazard. Have a trained professional perform an annual carbon monoxide inspection of your home.Installation of Enhanced Humidity Control Systems Both low humidity and high humidity can contribute to health and comfort issues, so it is important that your indoor air quality system monitors humidity levels at both ends of the spectrum. Mold and dust mites thrive in high humidity, but they die when humidity stays below 50%. In humidity below 30%, however, mucus membranes can dry up, asthma may become aggravated and nosebleeds or infections can result. An enhanced humidity control system will keep your indoor humidity levels within the 30 to 50% range suggested by the EPA, AMA and CDC. Options include an enhanced dehumidification air conditioning unit for high humidity areas and seasons or a central humidification system for dry areas and seasons.</div>