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 PM

Eye, 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 gases

Lung, stomach, bladder, skin cancers

Nose, 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

BRANDY TOFTAIR QUALITY SPECIALIST

LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE

218-335-7429AIR@LLDRM.ORG