Indoor Air Quality In New Construction

Breathe Easier From Day One: Your New Construction Indoor Air Quality Experts

Moving into a brand new home is an exciting milestone. You envision fresh paint, clean spaces, and a perfect environment for your family. However, there's a hidden challenge in modern, energy-efficient construction: maintaining healthy indoor air quality. While new homes are designed to be airtight for energy savings, this tight seal can also trap airborne pollutants inside, potentially impacting your family's health and comfort.

At Unlimited Heating & Refrigeration Inc., we specialize in providing comprehensive indoor air quality solutions specifically tailored for new construction homes in the Moscow area. We help you identify potential issues and implement effective strategies to ensure the air you breathe is clean, healthy, and safe from the moment you move in.

Why New Homes Need Special IAQ Attention

Today's newly built homes are far more energy-efficient than older houses, which is great for utility bills. However, the increased insulation and tighter seals mean less natural air exchange. This lack of natural ventilation can lead to a buildup of contaminants released from new building materials, furnishings, and even the construction process itself. Without proper ventilation and filtration, these pollutants can recirculate throughout your home.

The Silent Invaders: Common IAQ Issues in New Construction

New homes can contain a variety of airborne pollutants originating from fresh materials and construction activities:

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These are chemicals released as gases from solids or liquids. Common sources in new construction include paints, varnishes, sealants, flooring (carpeting, vinyl), adhesives, composite wood products, and new furniture. VOCs can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and long-term health issues.
• Formaldehyde: A specific type of VOC, formaldehyde is widely used in manufacturing building materials and household products, including pressed-wood products (plywood, particleboard, fiberboard), glues, and finishes. It's known to cause respiratory irritation and is classified as a human carcinogen.
• Construction Dust & Debris: Fine particles, sawdust, drywall dust, and other debris left over from the building process can linger in the air and settle within your ductwork, circulating every time your HVAC system runs.
• Moisture and Potential Mold Growth: Moisture can be trapped during construction (from wet materials like concrete or drywall) or enter due to plumbing leaks or humidity issues if not properly managed. This can lead to mold growth, triggering allergies, asthma symptoms, and respiratory problems.
• Other Potential Pollutants: Depending on the location and specific materials used, other concerns can include Radon (if present in the ground), combustion byproducts (if appliances aren't properly vented), and pesticides used during construction.

Protecting Your Family's Health

Exposure to these indoor air pollutants can have significant effects on your health, especially for young children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma or allergies. Symptoms can range from mild eye, nose, and throat irritation to more severe issues like headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and exacerbated respiratory problems. Ensuring excellent IAQ in your new home is an investment in your family's long-term health and well-being.

Our Comprehensive IAQ Solutions for New Construction

Unlimited Heating & Refrigeration Inc. offers a range of professional services designed to address the unique indoor air quality challenges of new homes:

• IAQ Assessment & Testing: We can perform professional assessments to identify specific pollutants present in your home and determine their levels. This helps us recommend the most effective mitigation strategies.
• Advanced Ventilation System Installation: Tightly sealed homes require mechanical ventilation to ensure a continuous supply of fresh outdoor air. We install high-efficiency systems like Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) that bring in fresh air while recovering energy from the outgoing stale air, minimizing heat loss or gain.
• High-Efficiency Air Filtration: We can upgrade your HVAC system with advanced filtration options, such as MERV 13+ filters or HEPA filtration systems, to capture fine particles, dust, allergens, and even some bacteria and viruses circulating in your home's air.
• Air Purification Systems: For added protection, we install air purification technologies like UV lights (effective against mold spores, bacteria, and viruses) and other advanced purification systems designed to neutralize VOCs and odors.
• Professional Duct Cleaning: Removing residual construction dust and debris from your home's ductwork is crucial for preventing its recirculation and ensuring your HVAC system runs efficiently.

When to Address New Construction IAQ

While some IAQ measures can be considered during the design and construction phases (like choosing low-VOC materials), it's never too late to improve your home's air quality. The period immediately after construction completion or right after moving in is a critical time to assess your home's air and implement solutions like professional duct cleaning, ventilation system installation, and advanced filtration/purification.

The Benefits of Proactive IAQ Management

Investing in the indoor air quality of your new construction home provides multiple benefits:

• Healthier Living Environment: Significantly reduces exposure to harmful pollutants.
• Increased Comfort: Minimizes odors and reduces respiratory irritations.
• Improved HVAC Performance: Clean ductwork and filtered air help your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently and last longer.
• Peace of Mind: Enjoy your new home knowing the air inside is clean and safe for your family.

Why Choose Unlimited Heating & Refrigeration Inc.?

With years of experience serving the Moscow area, Unlimited Heating & Refrigeration Inc. is your trusted local expert for all things HVAC and Indoor Air Quality. Our certified technicians understand the specific challenges presented by new construction and are equipped with the knowledge and tools to provide effective, lasting IAQ solutions. We're committed to helping you build not just a house, but a truly healthy home environment.

Let us help you ensure the air in your new home is as fresh and clean as the day you moved in.