Air Quality

Air quality and its effect on health have always been important. As our bodies must deal with an ever increasing volume of air borne contaminants, air quality has taken on new meaning. Let us help you improve the air quality of your environment.

We've found two significant factors over the past few years contributing to the air quality concerns of our clients.

First: our children appear to have a higher sensitivity to the quality of the air. Asthma in particular is more prevalent.

Second: the volume of chemical odors in our homes is rising at the same time we work to make our homes more effective at conserving energy by preventing drafts.

Keyes North Atlantic can help you give your family better air quality by installing good filtration and through the intentional introduction of fresh outdoor air. Energy recovery systems can further lower your heating and cooling costs while protecting you and your family at the same time.

Filtration
An important element of your home's heating, cooling and ventilation system is the type of filter the air passes through as it is heated or cooled. If your home uses ductwork for the heating or cooling system then we recommend the use of a high efficiency filter, which can be adapted to most systems. For homes currently without a duct system, we can provide you with a complete package including air handler, filters and ductwork. The system can be placed in the basement or attic space out of sight.

Air Filters
Air filters are sold in an overwhelming number of configurations, so we're going to make it easy for you. We've spent years replacing and testing air filters in homes, offices and businesses. Customer feedback and equipment inspection has led us to trust only a few filter types. All hot air and central cooling systems have a filter and the standard filter is very poor (like the mini spare tire that comes with your car) and needs to be upgraded to be of any real value.

For removal of airborne particles, a thick, pleated, cotton fiber filter has proved best. The filter is easily replaced and the dirt collected is thrown away with the filter media. High quality filters are available in standard and custom sizes to fit just about every application.

For removal of odors, we recommend an activated charcoal filter. These filters scrub the air of odors. Cooking smells, exhaust fumes, and other gases, are absorbed by the charcoal as the air passes over the media.

Once thought to be the ultimate, electronic filters have not proved to be the best answer for most systems. When functioning properly, these units are very effective, however we have found the repair rate and cost too high to recommend them on a regular basis. We design systems with electronic filters when the technology is appropriate and the cost of upkeep is offset by other design factors.

Another option we do not typically endorse is the use of electrostatic filters. These filters utilize the force of the air passing over the filter to create a static electricity charge to "hold" the airborne particles. In our field tests we have found the actual performance is poor. The installation of a high-grade cotton fiber filter has proved far more effective.

Pleated High Efficiency Filters
A high efficiency air filter frame fits into the ductwork connected to your duct system. Filters are available in one and four inch thick configurations. The one inch pleated filter will generally fit into your existing equipment without modification.

The four-inch think filter mounts into a frame, which we install into your system. Both the one and four inch filters are specially manufactured filters with air passages configured to remove a much larger quantity of debris than the standard one-inch fiberglass air filter.

Approximately once every six months (or at the interval you determine) you slide out the old dirty filter, replace it with a new one, and throw the old filter away. The special filters for the air cleaner unit are not cheap initially, but they are the only regular maintenance cost associated with the high efficiency air filter unit. Since the high efficiency air filter has no electrical parts, there are no repair costs.

Activated Charcoal Filters
Typically these filters are one inch thick. The charcoal is imbedded into the medium or frame to hold it in place. We always place another filter down stream of the charcoal filter to prevent any loose charcoal pieces from getting into the air stream.

The filters typically last 6 months in more suburban areas. Car emissions being greater in the city, we usually recommend 3 to 4 months between filter replacements.

Energy and Heat Recovery Systems
Energy and heat recovery systems have been popular in Europe and Canada for many years. These units are now becoming increasingly common in the United States. These units use a sophisticated air exchange process which recovers 70% to 80% of the energy used to cool or heat your house and uses it to re-heat or cool the fresh air it brings into the house.

Heat Recovery Ventilators
Heat recovery units are designed to operate primarily during the cooler months. Heat recovery units utilize an air exchange medium that captures between 70% and 80% of the heat of the outgoing exhaust air and puts this heat back into the fresh air that is bought into the home. This allows you to operate the recovery unit for less money than it would cost to fully heat the incoming fresh air.

Energy Recovery Ventilators
Energy recovery units are designed to operate year round. Energy recovery units take the efficiency of the heat recovery unit and provides the same conservation in the summer for homes with central cooling. As the cool and dry air is exhausted it cools and dries the incoming air so less of the fresh air has to be re-cooled.

Fresh Air Systems
Replacing a percentage of the air in your home with fresh outdoor air is an important element in creating a good air quality system. Outdoor air replaces the carbon dioxide that builds up in your home with fresh oxygen. Outdoor air also pushes out the odors that build up from the manufactured products in your home; rugs, synthetics and packaging. But outdoor air is sometimes not as clean as you'd like it to be. Pollen and other small contaminants need to be filtered out before they are brought inside.

National, State, and Local Safety Codes
Our experienced and licensed staff believes that these codes are a valuable system to ensure systems are installed properly. At Keyes North Atlantic our work always meets or exceeds the code requirements. If you'd like to know more about our licenses and credentials, we welcome you to the Insurance and Licenses portion of our Credentials section.

Insurance
We are fully covered for workers compensation insurance, and we carry two million dollars of general liability insurance. We are happy to forward certificates of insurance coverage to you for your records. Or view them right here in the Insurance and Licenses portion of our Credentials section.

Warranties and Guarantees
We provide a full one-year guarantee on our work, equipment, and materials. This guarantee is provided in addition to the warranties, which the manufacturers provide on the equipment that we install in your home. Click here for more information on our workmanship warranty.