Q. My family has allergies to molds and allergens. I want to make my house more airtight for better energy efficiency, but I heard this can intensify mold problems. If molds and allergens are inside how can I properly identify them? What improvements can I make that will improve my homes indoor air quality and conserve energy?
A.  Oftentimes, people think airtight, musty, mold-ridden indoor air quality is the price you have to pay for greater energy efficiency. Actually, making your house more energy efficient can have a positive impact on the indoor air quality.
Though mold spores are ubiquitous (common) in the indoor and outdoor environment, it is important to identify the type and concentration of the indoors spores for determining baseline conditions and for potential health implications.
With many allergens, such as pollen, insect biodetritus, skin cell fragments, fiberglass fibers an efficient airtight house helps keep them outdoors.
If molds and allergens are inside how can I properly identify them?
The best test for mold identification is a “non-viable” screen test where the sample is analyzed for many types of mold. The costs of this type of test are less than $75. If there are dead mold spores in your test sample, the nonviable test finds them. A culurable analysis can miss them because the dead spores would not reproduce, but live ones may still be somewhere else in your house.
The best in-home do-it-yourself kits available are the IAQ Screen Check product line manufactured by Building Health Check and available throughout the US via distributors and on-line dealers. The Mold Screen Check represents the most comprehensive kit available on the market today. Using Bio-Scan technology, the Mold Screen Check identifies the concentration of mold spores. The lab reports come with easy to understand graphs showing your results compared to what is considered to be normal...
The IAQ Screen Check family of do-it-yourself products includes: Mold Screen Check, Allergen Screen Check, Dust Mite Screen Check, Formaldehyde Screen Check, Organic Vapor Screen Check, Fiberglass Screen Check, Ozone Screen Check, Legionella Screen Check, RAPID Screen Check and FAST Screen Check and can be purchased on-line at www.IndoorAirTest.com. 
 
Clients of the IAQ Screen Check product line includes thousands of consumers as well as many commercial clients such as: Department of Justice – Miami, FL, Iroquois Corp -Boston, MA. Carrier Corporation - Indianapolis, IN., UTC - Hartford, CT., among many others.
 
Analysis results are provided within 3 – 5 business days with expedited requests available. There is on additional charge for expedited analysis requests.

IAQ Screen Check product line includes:

• Quick
• Easy to use
• Inexpensive
• Fast Turn-Around-Time (TAT)
• AIHA Accredited Laboratory

What improvements can I make that will improve my homes indoor air quality and conserve energy?
Depending on lab results and occupant concerns and/or complaints, the following considerations should be made to improve the indoor air quality of your home and save energy:

• IAQ Evaluation: Perform an independent comprehensive Indoor Air Quality baseline study to determine specificity of indoor pollutants and possible cause / effect relationship of building occupants.
•  Air Conveyance System (ACS): Inspect for cleanliness. Depending on condition, environmentally clean and treat ACS.
• Air Handler Unit (AHU): Inspect for cleanliness. Depending on condition, environmentally clean and treat AHU; reline with closed cell non-porous material.
• UV Light: Inspect for application. Typical UV lights (germicidal lamps) mount in the ductwork system or air handling unit and have the ability to control harmful bacteria, mold, viruses, etc. Post cooling coil application is best. UV light should be used in conjunction with high MERV filtration and environmentally clean HVAC systems.
• AHU Air Filtration: Depending upon present filtration, upgrade to highest ASHRAE standard Minimum Efficacy Reporting Value (MERV) rating available, while maintaining equipment static pressure requirements. A MERV rating of 16 is the highest. Quick Reference to Various Air Filter MERV Ratings:

MERV 1 - MERV 4: Throw-Away Fiberglass Media less than 20% @ 3 - 10 microns

MERV 5: Pleated Media Air Filters 20 - 34.9% @ 3 - 10 microns

MERV 10: Pleated Media Air Filters 85% @ 3 - 10 microns

MERV 14: Pleated Media Air Filters 85% - 94.9% @ .3 - 1.0 microns

MERV 16: Pleated Media Air Filters at 95% @ .3 - 1.0 microns

Note: The average Particle Size Particulate Efficiency (PSE) rating varies from MERV 1 - 16. ·        HEPA Vacuum Cleaner: Review housekeeping protocols. Depending on present vacuum product, upgrade vacuum cleaner to HEPA fitted at 99.97% efficient at .3 microns.
·        Polytac Prefilter at Return Grills: Install filters to arrest large particulates prior to entering the Return Air Duct System.
·        Unit Ventilation System (UVS): UVS’s are typically whole house air filtration and ventilators that circulate fresh air into the home every 2-4 hours, while removing potential stale air to the outside.
 
About Pure Air Control Services:

Founded in 1984 by Alan Wozniak, President/CEO in what began as a small mechanical contracting business has grown into an award winning, industry leading indoor environmental quality (IEQ) service company serving many fortune 500 corporations, school boards, county, city, state and federal governments and consumers across the US.  The firm has serviced over 500 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.  Pure Air Control Services is under contract with the General Services Administration (GSA), Contract #GS-10F-0488R, linking them directly to federal governmental agencies as a provider for IAQ consulting, expert laboratory analysis, as well as HVAC system cleaning and mold remediation services. The firm is also a certified 8(a) MBE.

The firm has offices in Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA, West Palm Beach, Fl., Houston, TX and Washington, DC, that services the entire country.

Pure Air Control Services provides the following indoor environmental services on a national basis:

·    Building Sciences Evaluation
·    Building Health Check
·    Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (AIHA Accredited)
·    Environmental Project Management
·    IAQ-Screen Check Test Kits/EvaluAire and EvaluAire Pro
·    Mold Remediation Services
·    HVAC System Remediation

Clients of Pure Air Control Services include: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), General Services Administration (GSA), Johnson Controls, Allstate Insurance, Carrier Air Conditioning, Siemens’ Building Technologies (SBT), V.T. Griffin, Dobbins Air Force Base, Naval Air Warfare Center - Orlando, Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia; The Haskell Company, Leon County Government, Tallahassee, Florida, Pinellas County Government, Clearwater, Florida; Collier County Government, Naples, Florida; Bayfront Medical Center, St. Pete, Florida; US Army - Ft. Bragg, Kentucky; Naval Station - Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Montgomery County School District, Maryland; Citrus County School District, Florida; and many others.

For additional information, please contact:

Mr. Alan Wozniak, President/CEO
Pure Air Control Services, Inc.
(800) 422-7873 x 802
www.pureaircontrols.com
www.edlab.org
www.buildinghealthcheck.com
www.indoorairtest.com