1. MORE THAN JUST STAYING WARM… BRANDY TOFT AIR QUALITY SPECIALIST LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE Home Heating

2. Types of Home Heating Fuel Sources Propane (LP) Natural Gas Fuel Oil Wood Coal Kerosene Pellets Outdoor wood boilers Electric

3. Central Air Conditioning (Heat and AC)

4. 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

5. Money down the drain??? Electrostatic or washable filters  Not worth the money  Usually not maintained properly

6. Filter slots and covers

7. Tight Space Fix

8. Ducts

9. Ducting Never run below grade Are there gaps between boots and floor substrate – seal with silicone/ metal tape Seal duct connections/joints with Mastic Interior fiberglass is contaminated– REMOVE Don’t use biocides Avoid panned bays

10. HRV/ERV Photo courtesy of The US Department of Energy Graphic courtesy of Popular Mechanics Clean quarterly at minimum!

11. Squirrel Cage – Furnace Blower Vacuum every 6 months Ensure free of debris Ensure filter fits properly – sucked into cage BAD Good

12. 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 ducts Do recommend cleaning duct boots quarterly with vacuum

13. 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

14. Neutral pressure plane Positive and Negative Pressures Stack Effect Wind Effect

15. How Much Air? – Delivered How? What moves air through buildings? Mechanical FansBuoyancy Stack effect - warm air rising Exhaust Fan WIND DIRECTION Wind

16. 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

17. Silent Killer - Carbon Monoxide (CO) You CAN’T See it Smell 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

18. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. Headlines Leading CO Expert Suffers Brain Damage Due to CO Fireplace smoldering and backdrafting Did not have a CO detector in home Hospital did not treat properly for over a day Local Man Dies of CO by Squirrel Neighbor and family friend

26. Not Just CO – Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) Colorless, tasteless, with sharp odor Deep lung irritant Eye, nose, respiratory and throat irritation Shortness of breath, narrow airways in asthmatics More respiratory illness (cold/flus) Lung damage/disease with long exposure

27. Particulate Matter (PM) Eye, nose, throat, lung irritation  Bronchitis, allergies, asthma, respiratory and ear infections, cardiovascular conditions… Sooting from appliances Ghosting on walls/ceiling Candles can create problems Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) What is adhered to particle?

29. 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

30. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Organic particles and gases Lung, stomach, bladder, skin cancers Nose, throat, eye irritation

31. Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Change blood pH levels Increase respiration rate Decrease ability to perform strenuous exercise Postulated increases for long term exposure:  Respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders

32. Water Vapor Byproduct of combustion Must vent or pump to exterior Not a pollutant but can cause moisture issues

33. BRANDY TOFT AIR QUALITY SPECIALIST LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE 218-335-7429 AIR@LLDRM.ORG