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MORE THAN JUST STAYING WARM… BRANDY TOFT AIR QUALITY SPECIALIST LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE Home Heating
MORE THAN JUST STAYING WARM…
BRANDY TOFTAIR QUALITY SPECIALIST
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
Home Heating
Types of Home Heating Fuel Sources
Propane (LP)Natural GasFuel OilWoodCoalKerosenePelletsOutdoor wood boilersElectric
Central Air Conditioning (Heat and AC)
Furnace Air Filters
Blue filters are NOT for health Mechanical use ONLY
Pleated filters are best 1” - MERV rating 7-8
Change MONTHLY! Label with marker date of change
4-6” pleated filters Check at 3 months, replace at 6 months Label with marker date of change
Money down the drain???
Electrostatic or washable filters Not worth the money Usually not maintained properly
Filter slots and covers
Tight Space Fix
Ducts
Ducting
Never run below grade Are there gaps between boots and floor
substrate – seal with silicone/ metal tapeSeal duct connections/joints with MasticInterior fiberglass is contaminated–
REMOVEDon’t use biocides Avoid panned bays
HRV/ERV
Photo courtesy of The US Department of Energy
Graphic courtesy of Popular Mechanics
Clean quarterly at minimum!
Squirrel Cage – Furnace Blower
Vacuum every 6 monthsEnsure free of debrisEnsure filter fits properly – sucked
into cageBAD Good
Ducts: To Clean or Not To Clean???
Usually not recommended – extreme cases Rodent infestation, substantial mold Interior debris releases into air flow
Do NOT clean interior insulated ductsDo recommend cleaning duct boots
quarterly with vacuum
Combustion Appliance Maintenance
Maintain each heating season Furnaces Gas water heaters While there check gas stoves, gas fireplaces
• Use care when operating combustion appliances indoors
• Make sure burner is properly adjusted and has good ventilation
• Ensure condensate pump works, unblocked
Neutral pressure plane
Positive and Negative Pressures
Stack Effect
Wind Effect
How Much Air? – Delivered How?
What moves air through buildings?
Mechanical FansBuoyancyStack effect - warm air
rising
Exhaust Fan
WIND DIRECTIO
N
Wind
Backdrafting - Spillage
Appliance is not vented properly Spills or back drafts into living area
Most common test utilizes a mirror as the byproducts of combustion contain water vapor which will cause the mirror to fog
Create worst case conditions – Negative Pressure Close all exterior doors and windows Activate all the exhaust fans Turn on clothes dryers Turn on ignite fireplaces
Silent Killer - Carbon Monoxide (CO)
You CAN’TSee itSmell it, or Taste it… But it can KILL in minutes!
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned
CO Levels (General Guidelines)
0-9 ppm No health risk 35-50 ppm Problems with long term
exposure – 8 hrs chronic symptoms of headaches, nausea, tired
MOST DETECTOR ALARMS GO OFF 50-70 ppm Exposure - 2-3 hrs Flu like
symptoms, headache, nausea 70-200 ppm Exposure - 1 hr Dizziness, fatigue,
vomiting 200-800 ppm Minutes of exposure can cause
unconsciousness, brain damage, DEATH
How CO attacks…
Red blood cells prefer CO to oxygen.
If there is enough CO in the air, CO replaces oxygen in the blood.
This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, damaging tissues and potentially causing death.
Common Sources of CO
• Blocked flue, chimney, vent pipes• Rusted/cracked furnace heat exchanger• Idling engine in attached garage• Backdrafting, spillage• Maladjusted fuel-fired space heater• Unvented use of BBQ/charcoal indoors• Gas stoves and ranges, water heaters• Outdoor use combustion
exhaust near vent/window
Headlines
Leading CO Expert Suffers Brain Damage Due to CO
Fireplace smoldering and backdraftingDid not have a CO detector in homeHospital did not treat properly for over a
day
Local Man Dies of CO by SquirrelNeighbor and family friend
Not Just CO – Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Colorless, tasteless, with sharp odorDeep lung irritantEye, nose, respiratory and throat
irritationShortness of breath, narrow airways in
asthmaticsMore respiratory illness (cold/flus)Lung damage/disease with
long exposure
Particulate Matter (PM)
Eye, nose, throat, lung irritation Bronchitis, allergies, asthma, respiratory
and ear infections, cardiovascular conditions…
Sooting from appliancesGhosting on walls/ceilingCandles can create problemsEnvironmental tobacco smoke (ETS)What is adhered to particle?
Sulfur Dioxide
Can work in tangent with PMEye, nose, throat, respiratory tract
irritation Respiratory infections, bronchitis
High levels can cause airways to narrow
Asthmatics are especially susceptible
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Organic particles and gasesLung, stomach, bladder, skin cancersNose, throat, eye irritation
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Change blood pH levels
Increase respiration rate
Decrease ability to perform strenuous exercise
Postulated increases for long term exposure: Respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders
Water Vapor
Byproduct of combustionMust vent or pump to exteriorNot a pollutant but can cause moisture
issues
