Page 98 - Southern Oregon Magazine Spring 2020

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BREATHING EASY

Attaining and Maintaining Healthy Indoor Air

randal lee

or all that Americans love being outdoors, studies show they actually Central air control includes the system’s thermostat, which allows the
Fspend about 87 percent of their time indoors, 69 percent of their operator to not just set the temperature, but to control the speed of
time in their own homes where, according to the EPA, the “concentra- airflow, the destination of conditioned air, and the volume of humidity.
tions of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical All this happens behind the scenes through equipment blowers, sys-
outdoor concentrations.” We spend much of our day in polluted spaces. tem dampers, and fans. Humidity is one factor of indoor air quality
to consider. Too much may cause mildew and mold, creating perfect
Part of the reason for this pollution results from positive changes. Over environments for harmful bacteria and viruses that cling to carpets,
the past two decades, building codes pertaining to the structure’s enve- furnishings, and window coverings.
lope have become more stringent, making buildings tighter and there-
fore, less breathable. To meet higher efficiency standards, today’s homes Air filtration removes and destroys harmful particulates such as pollen,
are better insulated, moisture barriers are properly shingled, windows grease, smoke, pet dander, and other irritants. Standard filters capture
and doors are double paned and triple flashed. This is good—weather less than five percent of particulates in the air. Logically, a better fil-
stays outside. On the flip side, however, contaminated air stays inside— ter does a better job. A filter with a 13 MERV (Minimum Efficiency
trapped particulates, gases, and odors. Reporting Value) rating is capable of filtering smaller particulates. Air
purifiers, UV germicidal lights, and mechanical media and air cleaners
We take breathing for granted, but need to realize that proper indoor can also be incorporated to cluster, destroy, and filter harmful particu-
air treatment and ventilation definitely affect our comfort and health. lates, further enhancing the quality of air.
Indoor air quality focuses on air control, filtration, and ventilation. Here
are some technical, though interesting aspects of our home’s air systems. The purpose of ventilation is to let contaminated air out of the building

96 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | spring 2020