09/16/2022
A customer recently emailed:
Hi Tony (and co.)!
You seem like the best person to ask this question to: I recently started monitoring the air quality in the house-- especially in the office where I sit all day-- and I'm not "concerned" but it has made me "curious".
To my knowledge, it's not common for residential HVAC systems to handle external air exchange. Is this something that's possible? Expensive? Something that Deluxe can (and would want to) do?
If you have a minute, I'd appreciate even a pointer on what the correct terminology is that I should be googling so I can educate myself better and bug you less.
I answered him below:
It's not addressed often, at least in the public forum, but home design has changed specifically because of concerns like yours. In response to energy concerns, home building became tighter and tighter for years. Then you began to hear of things like sick-home syndrome which was attributed to the lack of fresh air exchange in homes.
The industry responded with fresh air exchangers which are still heavily filtered. Honeywell, Aprilaire and others make then. The most current building codes mandate some form of fresh air exchange as well. There has also been the practice of drawing in some fresh air into your furnace return and exhausting through an active exhaust in your attic.
My opinion remains that nothing g work better than simply opening the windows often, Summer and Winter!. There are age-old traditions in the modern, western world which include opening all the windows during cleaning at least once every week, regardless off temperature or precipitation. DeLuxe has at least 1 customer who does this and we practice opening the windows completely often during the week.
Allergies can be an issue of course, but room air cleaners and whole house filtration systems can help with that. Some claim that the simple act of letting the outside in regularly, reduces allergic reactions. Check with your doctor about any health issues, of course!
Thank you,
Your Servant in Christ,
Anthony W Passaglia, President of Field Operations
DeLuxe HVAC/R, Inc, dba DeLuxe Refrigeration, Heating and Air
Email: [email protected]
Website: DeLuxeHVACR.com