Question: What is Indoor Air Quality?

Understanding indoor air quality first requires a basic knowledge of ventilation. Ventilation is a combination of processes which results in the supply and removal of air from inside a building. These processes typically include:

  1. Bringing in outdoor air.
  2. Conditioning and mixing the outdoor air with some portion of indoor air.
  3. Distributing this mixed air throughout the building.
  4. Exhausting some portion of the indoor air outside.

The goal of a ventilation systems is to maintain a healthy, safe, and comfortable environment with contaminants, humidity, fresh-air, and temperature in an optimal range.

Concerns with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) have increased since energy conservation measures were instituted in office buildings during the 1970s, minimizing the infiltration of outside air and contributing to the buildup of indoor air contaminants. IAQ generally refers to the quality of the air in an office environment. Other terms related to IAQ include Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and "Sick Building Syndrome." 

Complaints about IAQ range from simple complaints such as the air smelling odd to more complex, where the air quality causes illness and lost work time. It may not be easy to identify a single reason for IAQ complaints because of the number and variety of possible sources, causes, and varying individual sensitivities. The following questions link to resources that provide safety and health information relevant to indoor air quality.

If you have any questions about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), don't hesitate to call us 24 hours a day 7 days a week - ( 1-800-Any-Tyme - Remember to dial Y in Tyme ). We will send a technician out to your San Diego residence or business. In a hurry? Fill out our 30 second Online Service Form now or chat live with a Heating & Air Technician. Don't forget to view our Air Conditioning Basics page to bone up on your technical Heating & Air Condition information.