Fresh or Filtered - Home air quality can be improved

The Flint Journal First Edition
Sunday, April 02, 2006
By Helen S. Bas

Everyone is tired of being cooped up in the house with stale winter air. But opening windows is not always better, because allergy season is looming.

With the proliferation of air cleaners, air purifiers and air sanitizers on the market, it may be difficult to decide what, if anything to do to indoor air. Area experts offered advice on indoor air quality for the home.

Stephen Osborn, owner of Blue Flame Heating & Cooling in Flint, said there are a number of sources of air pollutants. For older houses, years of dirt buildup in air ducts can affect air quality, and getting the ducts cleaned can make breathing easier for those who are sensitive.

"In new houses, though, the problem is a different one," Osborn said. "There's not enough dilution of air, with newer houses being tighter." Dilution means fresher air mixes with air that has pollutants in it - with the result being a lower concentration of pollutants.

Osborn also said that cooking, bathrooms and new construction materials can produce pollutants that some are sensitive to.

He said there is a difference in air cleaners and air filters; most standard filters that fit into furnaces are only about 5 percent efficient.

"An air cleaner, though, is more elaborate and collects small dust particles and allergens," Osborn said.

Rich Cramer, co-owner of Dee Cramer in Grand Blanc Township, said homeowners should check the MERV, or minimum efficiency reporting value, rating of filters. "The best is HEPA (high efficiency particulate air)," he said.

"It has to do with how small a particle the filter can capture. The MERV rating of many filters you can buy is usually eight to 10; some are 16, which is close to HEPA."

Cramer said HEPA filters capture 99.9 percent of all particles down to three-tenths of a micron.

Cramer thinks that room air cleaners or purifiers don't work well, because air from all rooms mixes and only a small amount of cleaning is getting done. He said filters or cleaners on the furnace allow all air in the house to be cleaned.

Both Cramer and Osborn said that a fairly new service called "Air Advice" is available through heating and air conditioning dealers like themselves. It's not purchased by the customer; rather, a monitoring device is placed in the home for several days.

After gathering information on particles, chemicals, temperature and humidity, the device sends data to a computer, which generates a report for the heating contractor and customer to go over. "We can make recommendations on what's (best for your needs)," Cramer said.

Osborn added that the device has the potential to enable air quality to be significantly improved.

Osborn and Cramer emphasized that choices for reducing air pollutants are many, and that the choice that is correct depends on lots of factors.

"We try to make you aware of new products and what existing products can help you with your allergies or sensitivities," Osborn said.

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