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What Exactly Is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality refers to air quality within the buildings we live, work or spend any time in and it is known to affect our health, comfort and well-being. According to the Government of Canada*, air contaminants and pollutants present in the air can lead to health concerns.
There are number of allergens and substances of concern including dust, cigarette smoke and so-called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted as gases from household products like paints and aerosols. Other fine particles that reduce the quality of the air we breathe include mold, fungi, bacteria, dust mites, pollen and spores.

Indoor Air Quality Products

At Reliance®, we have a number of air purifiers and humidifiers that could help improve the quality of the air in your home. A Home Comfort Advisor can outline all the options for you and help you choose the the air purification system that suits your needs and budget. Our Indoor Air Quality Systems can work with your existing furnace or may be bundled with a new heating and cooling system.




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Indoor air quality refers to, well, the quality of the air within the buildings where we live,
work and spend our time, and it can affect our comfort and our health.
Studies show that, as Canadians, we tend to spend the majority of our time indoors – and
as patterns of work-life balance continue to shift, it’s even more important that
the air that we breathe is as fresh and free of impurities as we can make it.
At Reliance, we know you’d be hard-pressed to find an indoor environment that doesn’t
have at least a minimal concentration of impurities in the air, with the understanding that significant
concentrations of particulate matter can affect the enjoyment of your living space.
There are a variety of things that can affect your indoor air quality, including dust and
other fine particles, pollen, pet dander, cigarette smoke, the volume of local traffic
near your home and even the weather.
There can also be VOC’spresent in the air that are trace amounts of gasses that are
produced by many common household products and materials.
As a homeowner, it’s important to understand the types of air quality issues you may be
experiencing and the options available to help fix them.
Having a properly maintained HVAC system is a good first step in helping you to optimize
the quality of the air that you breathe – by regulating temperature and humidity, as well
as aiding to remove allergens, airborne pollutants and helping to reduce odours.
Reliance offers a number of indoor air quality solutions that can work with your existing
furnace or may be bundled with a new heating and cooling system.
These filters generate an electrostatic charge that attract small particles and impurities
in order to help remove them from the circulating air.
A Whole-Home HEPA filter When connected to your home’s air return is capable of removing
99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger, such as household dust, mites, pollen, mould
spores, pet dander, cooking smoke and grease, and more.
UV systems work to sterilize filters and air coils with the use of germicidal lamps that
deactivate or destroy microorganisms and bacteria.
Dry air can be a source of discomfort, especially during the winter months, and a whole-home
humidifier adds moisture only when it’s needed – allowing you to maintain the humidity
levels that are right for you.
One of the easiest ways to improve your indoor air quality is to increase ventilation and
provide more outside air to your living space.
An HRV or ERV can do just that, by supplying clean, fresh air, and recovering energy and
humidity from the exhaust air.
As far as filters go, it’s a good idea to check them at least every three months – with
more frequent inspections if you typically find that your filters get dirty quickly.
The air outside of your home is generally cleaner than the air inside your home – and
by opening windows to create a cross-breeze, you can help to dilute the concentration of
airborne impurities – keeping interior doors open also enhances air circulation.
Another way that you can make air circulation work for you, is with the use of strategically
placed portable fans throughout your home – they’re a great way to draw fresh air
in from the outdoors, keep it moving and ideally help to expel stagnant air through an exit.
And be sure to utilize local ventilation through the use of exhaust fans in your kitchen to
help reduce fumes and in the bathroom to remove excess humidity.
Reliance makes it easy to improve your indoor air quality – and our Home Comfort Advisors
can help you choose the solutions that are right for your home and your budget.
To book your FREE in-home consultation today, Call on Reliance.

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Featured Air Quality Resources

More Indoor Air Quality Resources

* Government of Canada Air Contaminants and Health Resource: Click Here
**Subject to rental program terms and conditions. Replacement provided within minimum term.