We eat, sleep, grow and spend more time in our homes than any other place.  There is no single universal element which has bigger impact on our quality of life than our home.  Yet most of us are complete unaware of the impact home performance plays in our family’s health.   Whether you have a tightly built new home or a drafty older home, pollutants can be putting you at risk of health problems.

Several sources of air pollution are located in the home.  Some pollutants cause health problems such as:

• Illness
• Poor sleep
• Odors
• Allergy symptoms
• Snoring
• Asthma & lung disease
• Dust & cleanliness issues
• Sickness symptoms such as:
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Drowsiness
• Digestive problems
• Fever
• Mild depression

There are three types of air pollutants that are present in a home:

Particulates

Particulates are air born particles such as duct, microbial, spores, pollen and smoke.   They enter the home through pressure imbalances and connectivity between the exterior and/or attic space and the interior space.  Particulates are removed through filtration.

Bio-Aerosols

Bio-Aerosol contaminants are airborne particles that are biological in origin.  They enter the home through wind, water, pets, rodents, and mechanical movement.  Bio-Aerosols include: dust mites, pet dander, mold, bacteria, viruses, mildew and fungus.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, household cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials such as glues and adhesives, carpet, flooring and combustible appliance gasses such as CO. 

EPA's Office of Research and Development's "Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study" (Volumes I through IV, completed in 1985) found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. TEAM studies indicated that while people are using products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels, and elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed.

At REEIS our Home Performance Analysts are trained to identify conditions which can elevate pollutant level in your home.  Conditions such as:

• Connectivity of the attic space and the conditioned space
• Pullulated air infiltration associated with return side duct leakage
• Pressure imbalances
• Improper air conditioning & heating system filter grill sizing
• Improper ventilation
• Inadequate air exchange rates

REEIS also offers wide variety of Health Home solutions including:

• Pollutant infiltration control
• House sealing
• Duct system sealing
• Pressure balancing
• Home ventilation
• Bathroom ventilation
• Whole house ventilation
• Pollutant filtration         
• Quality 4” media air filters which increase surface area 300%
• Filter grill upsizing
• Complete air filtration systems
• Complete air purification solutions which dramatically reduce:
• Particulate
• Bio-Aerosol
• VOC