The number of places where people can smoke is rapidly decreasing. We can’t outlaw tobacco, but we can raise awareness that second-hand smoke affects lungs. However, the limitations on indoor smoking are minor when evaluating the air quality to which we subject ourselves.
We have built buildings that are self-contained cocoons. We’re concerned with security, so we don’t open windows. We insulate against energy leakage. We have central air conditioning and heat distribution.
Air Movement
All of these have value, of course, but all involve the piping of air throughout our buildings. We handle cyclical air movement by:
• Filtering input air
• Distributing air
• Returning air
It’s an engineering exercise with concern for these:
• Airflow volumes
• Air exchanges
• Air density
• Airflow resistance
These all become a part of planning for the air system in a home or commercial building.Dry air (think Phoenix)leads to leakage. Humid air (think Seattle)leads to condensation and mold. Conditioned air puts restrictions on how we design our air systems and how they are maintained, particularly concerning air duct cleaning.
Contaminants
What about dirt? It’s everywhere, in variable particle sizes carried on moving air. Some of that dirt is on us; some merely swirls around us. Air carries hundreds of cubic feet per minute of common ordinary dust. In a forced hot air or air conditioning system that carries external air, that dirt is introduced into the duct work of your building.
While some people are sensitive or allergic to dust, it doesn’t affect us all. However, when that dust becomes moist, you are inviting mold—and that does affect many.
Filtration
So what do we do? We introduce filters into the airflow to collect dust. New furnace and air conditioning filters are as close as your nearest home products store.
How reliable are they? A furnace operates less than a quarter of the year; an air conditioner likewise; depending on where you’re located. Cheap fiber-constructed filters for air systems do well at removing large dust particles, yet the smaller particles pass.
These filters fail to trap the smaller particles initially but do so if they are not changed as recommended. As the filter plugs, fewer small particles pass. Given time and a good vacuum cleaner, more dust will be gathered by the household appliance than by the filters in the air movement system.
The fact remains, however, that for some period, the smaller particles are admitted by the filters and the duct work becomes progressively contaminated. There becomes a buildup inside the ducts. That buildup impedes efficient airflow. If the duct work grabbed the particles and hung onto them, that would be one thing. However, many of those particles lodge there temporarily and then continue movement—into your home or building—unless you remove them and get your Air Duct Cleaning.
We have built buildings that are self-contained cocoons. We’re concerned with security, so we don’t open windows. We insulate against energy leakage. We have central air conditioning and heat distribution.
Air Movement
All of these have value, of course, but all involve the piping of air throughout our buildings. We handle cyclical air movement by:
• Filtering input air
• Distributing air
• Returning air
It’s an engineering exercise with concern for these:
• Airflow volumes
• Air exchanges
• Air density
• Airflow resistance
These all become a part of planning for the air system in a home or commercial building.Dry air (think Phoenix)leads to leakage. Humid air (think Seattle)leads to condensation and mold. Conditioned air puts restrictions on how we design our air systems and how they are maintained, particularly concerning air duct cleaning.
Contaminants
What about dirt? It’s everywhere, in variable particle sizes carried on moving air. Some of that dirt is on us; some merely swirls around us. Air carries hundreds of cubic feet per minute of common ordinary dust. In a forced hot air or air conditioning system that carries external air, that dirt is introduced into the duct work of your building.
While some people are sensitive or allergic to dust, it doesn’t affect us all. However, when that dust becomes moist, you are inviting mold—and that does affect many.
Filtration
So what do we do? We introduce filters into the airflow to collect dust. New furnace and air conditioning filters are as close as your nearest home products store.
How reliable are they? A furnace operates less than a quarter of the year; an air conditioner likewise; depending on where you’re located. Cheap fiber-constructed filters for air systems do well at removing large dust particles, yet the smaller particles pass.
These filters fail to trap the smaller particles initially but do so if they are not changed as recommended. As the filter plugs, fewer small particles pass. Given time and a good vacuum cleaner, more dust will be gathered by the household appliance than by the filters in the air movement system.
The fact remains, however, that for some period, the smaller particles are admitted by the filters and the duct work becomes progressively contaminated. There becomes a buildup inside the ducts. That buildup impedes efficient airflow. If the duct work grabbed the particles and hung onto them, that would be one thing. However, many of those particles lodge there temporarily and then continue movement—into your home or building—unless you remove them and get your Air Duct Cleaning.
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