Indoor Air Quality

How Does it Affect You?

The air in your home or office could be negatively affecting your health. Why and how is determined by various conditions.

It is a common myth that the air outside is always more contaminated than indoors. In reality the air inside is often many times worse. In a study done in 1987 the EPA found that "concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations." Link to study

Here is a limited summary of what can cause poor to down right harmful indoor air qualities.

  • Not enough fresh air from outside
  • Polluted air coming inside
  • Chemicals that leach from things we use every day.
  • Combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide and particulate matter
  • Substances of natural origin such as radon and pet dander
  • Biological agents such as molds
  • Pesticides, lead, and asbestos
  • Ozone (from some air cleaners)
  • Various volatile organic compounds from a variety of products and materials
  • Most pollutants affecting indoor air quality come from sources inside buildings, although some originate outdoors.

Maintaining healthy indoor air requires a special and often unique recipe.  We offer a wide variety of indoor air quality services so we can custom tailor your solution around your specific need.

If you want to know that the air inside your home is as pure and clean as it can be, please give us a call.  In order to determine what solution you need we should first evaluate your existing HVAC system, duct system and the Home Or Building conditions.

Benefits of Healthy Indoor Air

  • Relief from allergies and asthma
  • Controlled humidity levels
  • Better sleep
  • Lower accumulated toxins in your body
  • Improved efficiency of the HVAC system

We offer solutions based upon a few fundamental aspects.

  • Filter and purify the air 
  • Seal the systems delivering the air
  • Maintain the cleanliness of the HVAC system
  • Move air through the building at prescribed rates 

Dirty Air - What is it?

The environmental protection agency has conducted numerous studies which reveal most if not all of the dangerous substances found in the air we breathe, every day, all day.  Obviously the majority of them are man made and several of them are listed above.  Below, you will see more information from their website about the potential sources of indoor air pollutants and adverse health effects.


Contaminant Sources

  • Building materials and furnishings as diverse as:
    • Deteriorated asbestos-containing insulation
    • Newly installed flooring, upholstery or carpet
    • Cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products
  • Products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies
  • Central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices
  • Excess moisture
  • Outdoor sources such as:
    • Radon
    • Pesticides
    • Outdoor air pollution.
  •  Fuel-burning combustion appliances

Effects on Human Health

  • Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
  • Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
  • Respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer.

What Ails You? 

  • Do you have continual respiratory system trouble that you have not been able to get rid of? 
  • Have you noticed that your symptoms get worse when you are at home or at work? 
  • Are there any musky or mildew type odors that linger in the home or building?
  • Is the humidity level not staying between 35 and 50%?

If you have been looking for a solution for any of the above it might be time to evaluate the quality of air you are breathing. 


What can you do if you are not ready to make major repairs?

  • Air purification devices such as the Reme Halo are great for purifying the air indoors.

What else can we can do to improve the quality of the air we breathe in our every day lives?

  • Open Windows when the outdoor air is healthy and near a comfortable temperature.
  • Use exhaust fans when cooking, showering and using chemicals.
  • Reduce the amount of chemicals that you use indoors.
  • Use natural substance as often as possible.
  • Get out of the cities often and enjoy some cleaner air.

Is Air Quality Important?

Arguably one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and your family is to ensure that the air you breathe is as clean and pure as possible.

There are many types of contaminants that can quietly aggravate our respiratory system and allowing these contaminants to continually bombard us can have longstanding negative effects on our health. The effects from these types of pollutants are not always immediately recognized and are often only considered after the symptoms are nearly unbearable.

Part of having healthy air is having clean air conditioning equipment and that means your system should be running at it's peak capacity and efficiency. So you get clean air, lower utility bills and a healthier life for you and your loved ones.

Give us a call today to discuss your indoor air quality concerns and we'll work with you to determine the best solution.

**100% satisfaction guaranteed.   We guarantee you will be completely satisfied with the quality of our services and solutions. If you are not then we are not done.

**Locally owned and operated. We have been serving the San Antonio area since 1996 and our goal has remained the same, proving to you that integrity is still important.

 

Air Purification

If you  want to improve your overall indoor air quality, installing a UV air purification system is a great choice. These units work to clean the air circulating in your home or office and rid the air of impurities such as bacteria and allergens. They also reduce and eliminate odors and allergens in your air.

Voss Integrity HVAC offers our customers in and around San Antonio the best air purification systems available, always installed by highly skilled technicians.

When air quality and installation quality is a concern, look to our professionals for help. Call us today at (210) 688-6880 to learn more about our UV air purification services and enjoy clean indoor air all the time!


How does UV air purification work?

The UV air purifier works with the indoor blower to kill airborne bacteria with the use of UV-C light. UV light has been proven to destroy bacteria at the molecular level. Units can operate as a stand-alone product or be installed in the unit or duct system. There are many different variations of UV systems and we encourage you to  Read more here.  One of our favorite and arguably the best UV purifiers is the REME HALO made by RGF, which utilizes a process called  P.H.I. (Photo Hyrdo Ionization) PHI allows for the entire building or home to be continually disinfected while removing odors and protecting your health.

Air Filtration

Seasonal pollen, allergens, dust from droughts and construction, and even smoke from fires across the planet make it difficult to maintain good quality air inside your home.

Electronic air cleaners are among the most effective and popular methods for removing the microscopic particles that easily bypass conventional filtration systems. The most efficient types create a change in the polarity charge of microscopic particles which makes them easily adhere to the filter medium immediately down stream. These units come with a 4 to 6 inch thick filter medium that typically only need to be replaced every 6 months to a year, depending upon the activity in the building or home and how much the system is running.

Dehumidification

Whole-home dehumidifiers help control moisture levels that contribute to mold and mildew growth.  are very helpful when the air conditioning system is not able to remove enough moisture from the air. Do you ever experience a situation where the air temperature is low but you still feel warm and "muggy"? That's humidity. 

Dehumidifiers come in many shapes and sizes but the most effective ones incorporate bringing outside air into the home which helps to keep the air fresh and at the proper humidity levels. The ideal humidity level for comfort is between 30% and  50% RH.

 

Humidification

Do you get annoyed with how dry and cracked your skin can feel in the winter? Me too, fortunately for both of us there are solutions. 

Maintaining proper humidity levels in the winter months can be difficult.  So what is going on? The heat inside the building carries humidity as it migrates to the colder, drier outside air.

The drier the air is inside the colder it feels to our bodies, so what do we do? Turn the heat up higher, which dries the air out even more.

You could go down to a local hardware store and buy a portable stand alone humidifier, which I bet many of you have done before. Or you could steam water in a kettle on the stove and waste allot of energy in the process.  Both of those work OK but not without using allot of energy and time. Both need to be refilled with water frequently and neither will increase the humidity evenly and quickly across any substantial size area.

What are the benefits of increasing the humidity levels to at least 30% RH?

  • Lower heating bills. Why- higher humidity makes it feel warmer so you run the heater less.
  • Help you stay hydrated.
  • Decreased dust levels. Did you know that more than 75% of the dust in your home is dry skin?
  • Do you know what Dust mites eat? Your skin! Thats why they like our beds! Stay moist my friends!
  • Homes with Whole Home dehumidifiers often have a higher value.

Energy Recovery Ventilators

ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) is a step up from whole home dehumidification system. This is because the air that is brought into the home is treated by air leaving the home which makes it less expensive to ventilate.

The air which is normally exhausted is used to precondition the incoming outdoor ventilation air.  During the warmer seasons, the system pre-cools and dehumidifies the incoming air and in the cooler season it humidifies and pre-heats the incoming air.

ERVs are very good for keeping the indoor environment within the desired "comfort zone" of 30% to 50% relative humidity. This range can be maintained under essentially all conditions. 

Photo Hydro Ionization

Photo-hydro-ionization is a process first used commercially by the RFG environmental group. https://www.rgf.com. When the HVAC system is in operation, the unit creates an advanced oxidation plasma (AOP) that is distributed through the duct system into the conditioning living space, all the way back to the evaporator coil. Unlike passive air technologies, such as an electrostatic filters, which need pollutants to pass through the unit for purification or filtration, the AOP sweeps through the home or building actively purifying pollutants at the source. The AOP consists of hydro-peroxides, oxide ions and hydroxide ions which are all friendly oxidizers that are found in nature’s process of cleaning the outdoor air and are safe for humans and animals alike.

RGF’s systems produce this oxidizing plasma as a small UV light shines on a metal that acts as a catalyst. The plasma that is created travels throughout the entire envelope of the home or building and effectively disinfects the air as well as surfaces. These units are much more expensive than a conventional UV bulb, but they are truly superior and in a league of their own.

Read More here REME HALO®.


Are these units right for me?

UV purification systems are very useful in homes with children and pets which tend to have a lot more dust, dirt and odors that can get into the HVAC system.

Those suffering with allergy and asthma complications can appreciate the killing of microscopic participles of pet dander, germs, seasonal spores, molds, regional dust and more, which can all bypass conventional filtration systems and become lodged in the moist surfaces of the evaporator coil.


What Are the Benefits?

Most UV air purifiers are known for killing up to 99.9% of airborne bacteria. We recommend these units to help you avoid winter airborne illnesses, as it can reduce the effects of the common cold considerably. Many UV light systems are placed strategically before and after air passes through the unit but using PHI you would only need one.

Less odor: A great side-effect of purified air is a cleaner smelling home. Odors come from pet dander, foods, trash or mildew in damp areas such as a basement. UV light destroys the actual source of the odor instead of masking it. UV light emits ozone-free and harmless hydroxyl ions that destroy the source of the odor.

Reduced mold and mildew: Mold and mildew contribute to odor and an unhealthy environment in a home or office. The UV air purifier can reduce the chance of mold growing in the home. UV light eliminates the buildup of spores.

Sealing, Cleaning and ventialtion Services.

The average house looses around 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. The most obvious result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable.

What you typically would not know is occurring:

  • Excessive dirt being drawn or forced into your duct system.
  • Moisture accumulating and encouraging biological growth where there are air leaks or poor insulation.
  • Negative building envelope pressure which draws in outside air through the attic, around windows and doors and even electrical outlets.

A duct system that is well-designed and properly sealed can make your home more comfortable, energy efficient and drastically improve indoor air quality.


Exhaust ventilation fans need love too. These small fans are often overlooked but they are an important part of a balanced air system. The ducts connected to them should be sealed and the fans should be cleaned on a regular maintenance schedule.

It is always a good idea to seal the actual structure of the building or home, such as around windows, doors, outlets, can lights, fireplace etc.

For information on our HVAC system cleaning see our Preferred Service Maintenance Agreements here.

 

Contact us for a quote to seal the ducts in your home and improve the performance of your heating and cooling system.

 

Testimonials

8/22/2019 - Paul Tausch

Stephen and his crew did an exceptional job. They not only were timely they saved me
money by offering repair options. Other companies just wanted to sell a new system but
Stephen was honest enough to recommend solutions in order to fix the existing equipment.…
  • Category: Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • Cost: $286
  • 16027 San Cayetano
    Helotes, TX 78023
8/5/2019 - Christine Beech


Easy to reach, punctual, all tools at hand, willing to work with requests, clean up. It took
minimal time to have all completed.

  • Category: Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • 1440 Oilwell
    Pipe Creek, TX 78063
7/29/2019 - Virginia & Steve Thomlison & Tavitas


It was great. Derrick was professional and knowledgeable.

  • Category: Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • 11902 Flaming Star
    San Antonio, TX 78249
6/23/2019 - Raymond Russell

Very Good job done.
  • Category: Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • Cost: $301
  • 3315 Stallion Crk
    San Antonio, TX 78247
8/18/2018 - tammie peterson

VOSS INTEGRITY HVAC My home was built in 2001. The original HVAC system was
designed OK, but because the Duct installation was poor the house had serious comfort
issues. The guest side of the house was VERY difficult to cool in the summer and heat in th…
  • Category: Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • 375 survista ln
    New Braunfels, TX 78132
6/1/2018 - KEVIN BRACEWELL


My company has been utilizing VOSS INTEGRITY HVAC since Stephen initiated his own
company. We were looking for a new contractor to have available for required repairs. Voss
HVAC was given the opportunity to get on board as being our local go to HVAC company a…

  • Category: Appliance Repair - Large, Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • Cost: $300
  • 6211 W Interstate 10
    San Antonio, TX 78201
5/28/2018 - Allan Vorda

Excellent. Voss Integrity HVAC lives up to its name for integrity as well as being very
professional.
  • Category: Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • 3130 Grants Lake Blvd
    Sugar Land, TX 77479
5/13/2018 - Alexandra Altwein

Amazing service! Always prompt,reliable and great services. I know I can always count on
Stephen and Derek excellent services.
  • Category: Appliance Repair - Large
  • Services Performed: Yes
  • 610 Robinhood Pl
    San Antonio, TX 78209
5/7/2018 - Mike Peterson


They were very knowledgeable, they knew what was needed to be done to all of my original
problem. They fixed all of my original builders problem.

  • Category: Heating & A/C
  • Services Performed: Yes
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