Indoor Air Quality
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
There are many contributors to bad air quality. From dust you can see to harmful invisible gas, we have ways to drastically improve the air quality inside your home. Everyone will benefit from an air purifier, air filtration system, and/or radon mitigation. We have products that can be powered by a furnace fan, germicidal lights, humidifiers, dehumidifiers and much more.
Get in touch with us if you’d like us to give you peace of mind with your indoor air quality.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO BAD AIR QUALITY
Dust tends to stick around the longest. It can be found on furniture, bookshelves and collect inside your duct-work – which not only affects the efficiency of your system, but the health of your family as well.
Give Dust the Big Blow Off
Dust can play dirty, but he’s no match for a Healthy Climate® 16 Air Cleaner, which captures and removes even the smallest of particles.
Microscopic in size, but not in stature, bacteria likes to grow in warm, damp places—or anywhere humidity and mould are found. Ignore bacteria, and it can multiply and become a giant health concern for you and your family.
Say Goodbye to Bacteria
Using the same filtration technology found in hospital operating rooms, a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) System helps control bacteria and other small contaminants.
To put it bluntly, odour stinks. Nobody likes him, and getting rid of him can be a difficult task. Air fresheners only mask odour. And, unfortunately, they can further contaminate your home by releasing harmful chemicals into the air. Luckily, there’s a better way.
Turn up Your Nose to Odour
Clear the air with a Bryant® Perfect Air™ Purifier, the only single indoor air quality system that can safely remove and destroy odours.
Pollen is a bit of a nomad – a wayward sort that likes to float around the house looking for an easy sneeze. But, if left to roam freely, it can make things difficult for anyone with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems.
Stop Pollen in Its Path
Pull the welcome mat from under pollen’s feet with Perfect Air™ EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter with MERV 16 filter, which helps minimize concentrations of pollen and other particles in your home’s air.
Mold is not only gross – it’s sickening. It can cause headaches, trigger allergies and turn your home into a serious health hazard if humidity levels get too high.
Learn How to Manage Mold
By keeping humidity in check and using a UV light to control the growth of bacteria, you can keep mold out of the picture for good. For best results, combine with the Healthy Climate Humiditrol® System and a Healthy Climate® Air Cleaner.
It’s hairy. It’s itchy. It’s pet dander. And, if not dealt with properly, it can become an irritating pest for you and your family – especially those who suffer from respiratory problems like allergies or asthma.
Find Out How to Shake Pet Dander
A MERV 10 or higher pleated air filter helps trap pet dander, so you don’t have to worry about it getting under your skin.
Not only is humidity a troublemaker when it comes to temperature – it can turn your home into a damp, cozy haven in which other air contaminants such as mould, odour and bacteria can thrive. Humidity poses a risk to the health of your family.
How to Handle Humidity
Nobody wants a wet blanket around. Get rid of humidity once and for all with the Humiditrol® Dehumidification System, which works with your heating and cooling system to keep moisture at bay.
It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada and can be in your home without you even knowing. Manitoba is known to have higher levels of radon gas than other parts of Canada.
How to Test for Radon
GLT Service Professionals are one of the companies in Southeast Manitoba to obtain their Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) certification. They can test for radon levels and give you the options on how to rid your home of radon.
Could the Air in Your Home Be Harmful to You and Your Family?
According to the EPA, levels of air pollution inside the home can be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels. This is because household dust can contain mites, mold, mildew, pollen and animal/human dander – all of which is cycled through the central air system, which completely circulates the air in your home 3 to 5 times a day. When these contaminants get into your ducts, it can harm your furnace and your supply of filtered air.
How can I improve my air quality?
Change your furnace filter
Your furnace filter’s job is to protect your air circulation system from building up layers of dirt and debris as it circulates the air through your home. They also help remove other contaminants from your air in the process. However, the particles that the filter catches will build up on the filter over time, reducing it’s effectiveness. Regularly changing your filter will remove these contaminants from your HVAC system, and ensure the filter is operating effectively to help keep your air clean.
For more information about furnace filters, read our What Should I Know About Furnace Filters? page.
Install a UV Air Purification System
UV air purification systems sit inside your HVAC ducts and use ultraviolet light to kill germs and bacteria that pass by. These systems can range from a simple UV lamp that sits on your air conditioning coil, to advanced air purification solutions that diligently remove airborne contaminants such as smoke and infectious bacteria down to 0.01 micron.
Check out our UV Light System Breakdown for our review of the different options available for your home.
Have Your Ducts Professionally Cleaned and Disinfected
Thoroughly cleaning your ducts will reduce contaminants flowing through your ductwork and into your home. A disinfectant spray can also be applied to kill germs and bacteria, further improving the quality of air flowing through your home.
Contact us for more information on having your ducts cleaned and disinfected.
BEFORE
AFTER
RADON MITIGATION
Radon is a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas found naturally in the environment; Manitoba is known to have higher levels of radon gas than other parts of Canada. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon in the home may increase the risk of developing lung cancer; radon is the second leading cause of lung cancers. According to Health Canada, safe levels of radon in the home is below 200 Bq/m3.
You can purchase your in-home test kit here for only $59.99.
Image courtesy of Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists
HOW DOES RADON GET INTO MY HOME?
Radon gas can enter a building through cracks or gaps in the walls and foundation, window casements, and even the sump pit. As the pressure inside your home is usually lower than in the soil surrounding the foundation, air and other gases, including radon, will be drawn from the soil into your home.
HOW DO I KNOW IF THERE IS RADON IN MY HOME?
The only way to know, is to test for it. You can purchase a long term radon test kit here for $59.99. Once you receive it, all you have to do is place the test in your house (preferably in the lowest level of your home) for 91 days. After 91 days, you return the test (shipping to the lab included) and get your results. The whole process can take anywhere between 3-5 months. It’s best to test for radon over the winter months when there is less ventilation in your home.
MY RADON LEVEL IS HIGHER THAN 200 BQ/M3, NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Health Canada recommends that if the level of radon is between 200 – 600 Bq/m3, you should fix the issue within two years. However, if the test shows that the level is over 600 Bq/m3, you should fix the issue within one year.
NOW MY HOME REQUIRES RADON MITIGATION, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
There are many different reduction methods that can be explored. These methods will depend on the unique characteristics of your home, the level of radon, and how it’s getting inside your house. While one method may reduce the levels enough, sometimes a combination of several methods is a better solution.
Cost is dependent on what method(s) are required to reduce the amount of radon in your home. Your GLT certified radon professional will speak to you about your options. Manitoba Hydro has Energy Finance Plans available for radon mitigation (through a C-NRPP certified contractor like GLT Service Professionals).
Sources: Health Canada and Take Action on Radon