11
AIR QUALITY READINGS (Issues, Causes, Solutions)
Indoor Air
Quality Issues
Potential Causes Recommended Solutions
Recommended
Indoor Levels
Hot or Cold
Temperatures
in Rooms
Unbalanced HVAC
System
Install Home Balancing Kit in all supply
grilles
The World Health
Organization recom-
mends 64 °F (18 °C)
Building Envelope
Excessive Leaking
Perform blower door test
Perform leak inspection of all potential leak
sources (windows, doors, chimney, wall
insulation)
Missing or Damaged
Insulation
Perform thermal imaging inspection to
determine sources of insufcient insulation
High
Humidity Level
Return and/or Supply
Duct Leaks
Perform leak inspection and repair all leaks
in ductwork
OSHA recommends
20–60% relative
humidity.
Oversized AC Unit/Short
Cycling
Calculate appropriate equipment size and
adjust accordingly
Building Envelope
Excessive Leaking
Perform blower door test
Perform leak inspection of all potential leak
sources (windows, doors, chimney, walls
insulation)
High PM
2.5
(0-
2.5 microns)
Dirty Ductwork
Clean and sanitize ducts
US EPA recommends
an average <12 μg/
m3 or less per day
over duration of
1 year.
Add whole home UV/anti-bacterial system
Organic Growth on
Coils/in Air Handler
Clean and sanitize cooling coils, condensate
drain pan/lines and interior of air handler
cabinet
Add UV light and antimicrobial tabs to
condensate drain pan
Return Duct Leaks,
Contaminate Inltration
Perform leak inspection and repair all leaks
in ductwork
Dirty Supply Grilles Clean supply grilles
High PM
10.0
(2.5-10.0
microns)
Poor Filtration
Add return lters with MERV rating (≥ 12)
US EPA 24-hour
standard <65 μg/
m3 based on the
3-year average of the
annual 98th percentile
concentrations.
Add local HEPA ltration to remove particles
> 3 microns