San Benito County – Air Quality – Indoor

The last step in your Monterey County and San Benito County air quality improvement project is to make sure that the work you receive is the work you desired. It should be visibly apparent if your contractor has installed a heating, air conditioning, or dehumidification unit that is different from what you selected or that do not meet your specifications. In addition to this, be sure to inspect that all parts are in working order. Check buttons, thermostats, and filters to ensure all new materials are functioning properly. If you notice odors or don’t see an improvement in the temperature distribution, air purity, or humidity over time, follow up with your contractor and let him or her know.

Ask to keep copies outlining the details of all warranties and guarantees that apply to both the materials used in your air quality project and the service provided. Warranties should include:

1. A physical address for the manufacturer or service provider.
2. A list of all products or services covered by the warranty.
3. What your responsibilities include in the event that products or services received are defective.
4. The length and transferability of the warranty term.

Air quality projects address a wide range of areas and problems, from duct cleaning to asbestos removal. The most commonly requested Monterey County and San Benito County 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 air tightness 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 that 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 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, effectively removing 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 cannot 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 5-7 years, depending on indoor air quality factors such as the age of your home or 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, 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 that your unit is working as efficiently as possible, this will also 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 purificationandfiltration 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, and can be up to twice as energy efficient, saving you money in the long run.

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 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
Carbon monoxide leaks, even at a low level, 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 2-4 years and gradually loses its effectiveness, leaving you vulnerable to undetected leaks. A qualified Monterey County and San Benito County 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 air quality system monitors humidity levels at both ends of the spectrum. Mold and dust mites thrive in high humidity, but 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 30-50% 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.

Installation of Enhanced Mechanical Ventilation Systems
Pressure imbalances can result from a lack of ventilation or air return mechanisms in rooms that are closed off from the rest of the house, or from unduly large exhaust fans and leaking ducts. This causes impure air to be drawn into the room through any existing air leaks, or prevents even temperature distribution and air circulation. Having an appropriate balanced number of air returns and sends eliminates pressure imbalances and greatly improve air circulation and quality. They also help dehumidify and filter, likelihood the presence of mold and mildew.

Top 10 Brand Requests
There are many reliable air quality system manufacturers with a history of high quality products backed by comprehensive warranties. Here’s a list of some of the top brands in the industry:

1. Trane HVAC Equipment
2. Coleman HVAC Systems
3. Mitsubishi HVAC
4. General Electric
5. American Standard
6. Carrier Heating and Cooling
7. York HVAC Systems
8. Samsung HVAC Equipment
9. Kenmore HVAC Systems
10. Lennox Cooling and Heating Systems

In your quest to perfect your home air quality system, you’ll encounter a large volume of extra features and technical specifications. The following glossary provides definitions and descriptions of all the air quality related jargon you need to know:

air conditioner
The air-cooling unit that is typically located outside the home, and provides dehumidification, ventilation, and temperature regulation.

air handler
The part of an air conditioning system that regulates and directs air through ductwork, distributing air throughout the home.

airflow volume
The measurement of an air conditioner’s air output, typically in cubic feet per minute. This should be sized appropriate to the area of your home.

asbestos
A naturally occurring mineral that was prevalent in insulation in many homes built before the 1970s. Asbestos is found around steam pipes, boilers, furnace ducts, and can also be used in vinyl flooring, roofing, and siding.

backdraft
When air is drawn into a depressurized environment, for instance, a home or gas burning appliance, leading to potentially dangerous concentrations of gases.

blower
The part of an heating system that circulates heated air throughout the home.

Also known as: furnace blower

carbon monoxide
A deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by burning of coal, wood, charcoal, and natural gas.

Also known as: CO, CO gas.

CFM (cubic feet per minute)
The amount of air that flows through an air conditioning system.

compressor
The part of an air conditioner that pumps refrigerant into the system.

dehumidifier
The equipment or feature that extracts water content from the air by cooling air until water vapor turns to liquid condensation, which is then removed.

dry bulb temperature
A measurement of heat independent of humidity. A measurement of the raw heat content of air.

ducts (ductwork, air ducts)
The system of pipes that transports air of the desired temperature from the heating or air conditioning system to the rest of the house.

energy efficient
The transfer of energy from one source to another without loss.

EPA
Environmental Protection Agency, a U.S. Federal government agency that promotes energy efficient, environmentally friendly equipment.

exhaust system
A pipe andandor fan system that expels or exhausts gases, directing them outside or away from a combustion environment such as those present in HVAC systems.

filtration system
A system that removes airborne particles of varying size from the air by trapping them in layers of various filtration materials.

Also known as: filter

flue
The part of an HVAC system or fireplace that vents out exhaust gases.

Also known as: flue pipe

furnace
A heating system that burns fuel to produce heat which is then distributed by air throughout a home.

humidifier
A device that adds water vapor or moisture to the air. Typically used in dry environments.

HVAC
Stands for “Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning.” Most HVAC contractors perform air quality related work.

ignition system
The part of a heating system that starts the combustion process by lighting a gaseous mixture.

Infiltrometer
A device created by the U.S. Department of Energy to test air tightness 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

insulation
Material that blocks the transfer of heat, used in homes to surround hot water pipes and prevent heat from escaping the interior home environment.

ionization system
A device that purifies air on a microscopic level by using high voltage to electrically charge and “magnetize” airborne particles, causing them to attract to grounded surfaces like walls, floor, and ceilings, or surfaces housed within the purification device.

Also known as: ionic air purifiers, air ionizers.

pressure imbalance
A state in which neighboring air environments are not equal in pressure, causing air to flow from an area of higher pressure into one of lower pressure.

purification system
A system that cleans the air either chemically (usually through ozone) or electrically (through ionization), rather than simply trapping airborne particles in a filter.

recessed can lighting
A light fixture recessed into a hollow opening in the ceiling, in which a light bulb is housed in a cylindrical “can” that directs light downward.

return vent
The part of an air conditioning system that prevents a pressure buildup within an enclosed area by providing an “outlet” for air to counteract the supply vents which blow air into a room.

Also known as: air return

sealant
A water based or putty like material that provides air tightness within a home environment by sealing of ducts, garages, and other porous areas, and preventing infiltration and loss of heated or cooled air.

Also known as: fiber-reinforced elastomeric sealant, duct sealant

supply vent
The part of an HVAC system that blows heated or cooled air into an area of the house.

temperature distribution
Refers to the uniformity of the temperature in different regions of a home. Even distribution occurs when all areas of the home are heated and cooled equally, while uneven distribution occurs when some areas of the home are warmer or cooler than others.

thermal bypass
An area within exterior walls of the home in which there is no insulation, allowing heat to escape.

thermostat
A device that allows users to monitor and regulate the temperature and settings of an HVAC system.

ultraviolet purification system
A purification system that disinfects and purifies air using ultraviolet light, eliminating mold, bacteria, and other harmful airborne substances.

Also known as : UV purification, UV air purification

ventilation system
A system that facilitates the circulation of air into and out of a room or building.

Also known as: ventilation return, ventilation supply

Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified air quality contractor?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose an air quality contractor with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only air quality contractors rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified air quality contractor.

Q: What is the difference between purification and filtration?
A: Air purification consists of actually cleaning, sterilizing, and/or disinfecting the air using ionization, UV light, or ozone to eliminate harmful bacteria and particles as small as 0.01 microns from the air. Filtration on the other hand, simply traps particles in a system of fibrous materials, and typically does not remove particles as small as those that purification systems remove.

Q: What should I do if I suspect that my home contains asbestos products?
Asbestos was used in many homes built before the 1970s, often found around steam pipes, boilers, and furnace ducts. It can also be used in vinyl flooring, roofing, and siding. A common misconception is that the presence of any asbestos poses a health hazard. In fact, 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 air quality professional who can assess the situation and provide removal services if necessary. It is possible that, if the asbestos product is still in good condition, the safest way to maintain air quality is to leave it as is.

Q: How long does a typical air quality project take?
This depends on the nature of your project. An Infiltrometer test only takes about an hour, while a complete HVAC system overhaul can take several weeks. Expect simpler procedures like air conditioner installation or duct cleaning and sealing to take no more than 2-3 days. Add to this a few weeks of additional product selection and shipping time.

Q: How often should I have my ducts inspected and cleaned? How do I know it’s time for a new HVAC unit entirely?
Depending on the environment you live in, your ducts should be inspected every 2-3 years and cleaned every 5-7 years. The older the home, and the more pets and smokers present, the more frequently the ducts should be cleaned. Most HVAC units begin losing efficient functionality after 10-12 years. Your qualified contractor can assess condition and efficiency of your unit and recommend repairs or upgrades.

Q: Will my air quality contractor be able to help me choose materials and obtain permits, if necessary?
Qualified, licensed air quality contractors will definitely offer expertise in the decision-making process, steering you clear of manufacturers that may not fit your budget or quality criteria, and lending their advice on various features and types of air quality systems. They will also know the ins and outs of obtaining building permits.

Q: How much can I expect to spend for an air quality project?
Once again, this varies widely, according to the nature of your project. An Infiltrometer test is often complimentary if you purchase other services from the contractor. A duct cleaning can cost between $100-1000, depending on the size of the area and the kind of equipment used. An air conditioning unit typically costs between $1500-5000, depending on the number of enhanced features and the size of the home area.

A new furnace typically costs $2000-5000, once again depending on the energy efficiency, features, and size of the home. A central humidifier/dehumidifier is typically $100-300, while filtration systems are $150-500, and purification systems range between $500-2500 or more, depending on the type of purification and number of features.

Q: What is a typical project payment schedule?
Most contracting firms will require 30-50% up front at the time the contract is signed, an additional 30-40% upon delivery of the materials, and the balance upon completion.

Q: What is a typical warranty for HVAC units and contracting services?
Many contractors guarantee their work for one to five years after completion of an installation. You can expect most heating units to come with a warranty of up to 20 years, while air conditioning units typically have shorter 10-year warranties. Warranties on purification and humidification or dehumidification systems vary widely.