How Clean Is Your Indoor Air?

What kind of pollutants affects my indoor air quality in NZ?

• Noxious gases: such as carbon monoxide & nitrogen dioxide from unflued gas heaters, leaking chimneys, wood & gas stoves, car exhaust gases in attached garages & tobacco smoke
• Airborne sprays: from air fresheners, cleaners & pesticides used indoors, & from products used on lawns & gardens that make their way inside the house
• Biological contaminants: include bacteria, animal fur & pest droppings – these create fine breathable particles that contribute to allergies & respiratory disease
• Building materials: paint, glues, carpets & other finishes or furnishings emit chemicals that can be harmful & trigger asthma & a range of other ailments
• Damp: houses that are damp provide the perfect conditions for mould & dust mites
• Dust: dust levels can increase during renovations
• Asbestos: before renovating, ensure you know whether your property contains asbestos & get this safely & professionally removed

What Are The Health Impacts Of Air Pollutants Or Bad Air Quality?

The impacts on health can vary depending upon the type of pollutant & can include coughing, sneezing, asthma, headaches, fatigue, dizziness & eyes, nose, throat & skin irritations.

The effects can be acute & sudden (e.g. allergies from dust mites) or chronic & long term (e.g. spores from mould). Exposure to air pollutants may occur immediately after moving into a new home or symptoms may take time to develop & can be ongoing if the sources are not addressed.

Pollutant levels from singular sources may not pose a considerable health risk by themselves, multiple sources of indoor air pollution may interact together, causing health issues.

How To Improve Your Indoor Air & Protect Your Family

There are many ways to protect yourself & members of your family or staff by improving your indoor air environment. 

• Carefully select the materials used in your property
• Keep your property warm, dry & well-ventilated (using safe, energy efficient heating such as heat pumps)
• Keep dust levels low
• Do not smoke indoors
• Keep your carpets clean
• Use air purifiers or purification systems
• Install a ventilation system (especially beneficial in new properties that have been designed to be air-tight)

Air Purifiers

Air purifying technology within air purifiers protect air environments in the home, office & everywhere clean air is important.

Daikin’s new range of Air Purifiers with Streamer Technology are designed to capture, suppress & break down pollutants such as mould, pollen, allergens, odours, formaldehyde, traffic pollution & dust. Adding to the list of benefits, the range is approved by the Sensitive Choice® New Zealand program.

The secret to high performance air purification is Daikin’s Streamer Technology. This innovative technology features a high-power plasma discharge that generates high-speed electrons to decompose harmful substances. This powerful oxidative decomposition process continuously removes odours, bacteria & indoor air pollutants, such as formaldehyde, for superior air purification.

Key Features:

• 4 Layers of filtration: Features Pre-filter, Deodorising Filter, High Efficiency Particulate filter & Daikin’s signature Streamer Technology.
• Triple detection sensor: Dust, PM2.5 particles & odour levels are displayed on the top of unit for easy live monitoring.
• Ultra quiet operation: Whisper quiet operation with sound levels of as low as 19dBA (in Quiet Mode)
• Anti-pollen mode: By creating gentle air turbulence from fan speed modulation, pollen is trapped by the air filters before it settles
• Turbo mode: High power operation for quick removal of pollutants. Ideal for use when there is a sudden increase of occupants in the room
  
• Auto fan mode: Airflow is optimised to suit contamination levels detected from the sensors for efficient energy usage
• Econo mode: Automatically switches between ‘Quiet’ & ‘Low’ operation mode to suit contamination levels. Ideal for sleeping hours

To download an Air Purifier brochure click here.

Heat Reclaim Ventilation (HRV)

The Daikin VAM Energy Recovery Ventilator (HRV) is designed to help improve indoor air quality &reduce the overall HVAC system power consumption. This is achieved by providing fresh outside air &recovering waste heat from exhaust air leaving the conditioned space.

Key Features

• Energy saving ventilation using indoor heating, cooling & moisture recovery
• Free cooling possible when outdoor temperature is below indoor temperature (e.g. during night-time)
• Prevent energy losses from over-ventilation while improving indoor air quality with optional CO2 sensor
• High efficiency filters available
• Reduced energy consumption thanks to specially developed DC fan motor
• Can be used as standalone or integrated into air conditioning systems
• Wide range of units available
• Total fresh air solution with optional electrical heater

For advice on how to improve your indoor air quality or a free quotation for heating, cooling, ventilation or air purifiers, contact The Heat Pump People team on 03 366 1823.