Here
in New England the issues are particularly significant. Maine residents face exposures to radon, carbon monoxide, lead, asbestos, mercury, tobacco products,
chemicals and pesticides, pressed wood products, formaldehyde
and biological contaminants. Viruses,
bacteria, molds, dust mites, allergens and Radon are all trapped in the air we “re-breath”. In our attempts to
be energy efficient, we construct tightly sealed homes for up to 8 months a year. The tighter the construction, the greater
the concentration of these pollutants – and our bedrooms are the worst!
Can Indoor air pollution really affect me if I’m healthy?
Certainly kids and seniors are most at-risk, however, indoor air pollution can effect you in a variety of ways. Eye
irritation, morning grogginess, fatigue, dizziness, diminished ability to concentrate, headaches, runny noses, irritated throat
and lungs are issues regardless of your age.
Breathing
dirty, mold/bacterial laden air for long periods of time can affect any part of your body, including, lungs, heart, liver,
kidneys, brain and nervous system. According to the EPA, indoor air can be up to five times more contaminated
than outside air and sometimes even higher.
I have a lot of moisture building up in my house – is this really a problem?
Mold spores are just waiting for enough moisture to start
growing. Mold uses the cellulose in wood fiber as a food source – this is how dead trees disappear in the woods. The
outbreak of Legionnaires Disease demonstrated just how deadly mold can be.
What about just getting a room air purifier –
will that take care of the problem?
There are 3
main types of air pollution: particles, gases and moisture. Most room air filters only filter out particles. The gases may
be the biggest threat to our health.
I hear a lot about Radon – is it serious?
Radon is an
odorless, naturally occurring gas produced from the decay of uranium in the ground. It has a high statistical correlation
to lung cancer for people who have never smoked. Here in Maine, the problem is serious. In residences tested, from 44% to
74% of the homes (depending on the county) produced levels high enough to require remediation. According to recent CDC reports,
Maine has a Lung Cancer death rate 20% higher then the national average.Nationally,
Radon is estimated to cause over 20,000 deaths per year.
Won’t
we lose a lot of heat if we are constantly bringing in fresh cold air?
Yes. This is why we
are tightening up our homes. With a mechanical ventilation system, you can control the air flow, prevent over-ventilating
and our Systems recapture up to 95% of the heat energy in the exhausting air. Bath fans have no heat recovery.
Do the systems use a lot of electricity?
The Venmar Sytems use as little as 26 watts and cost less then $3 a month. Is your health worth it?
Is
it a big job to install an air exchange system in an existing home?
How long does it take?
It
all depends on the home.Most can be installed in 3 to 5 days
Can
you actually measure the differences in air quality?
My customers tell me…absolutely
yes!
What about “ionizing” the air will that make a difference?
Ionizing has been shown to create VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These are
known carcinogens.Electronic Air Cleaners and Ion Generators may emit ozone into the indoor environment. This
type of product is not recommended. Ozone, when inhaled, can damage the lungs. Low amounts of ozone can cause shortness
of breath, throat irritation, coughing and chest pain. It may also worsen asthma and other respiratory diseases and
weaken the body's ability to fight respiratory infections.
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Fresh Air Ventilation Systems, LLC * 155 Spring St. Lewiston, ME 04240 * USA * Phone: (207) 786-9400
