Rotobrush Offers Solutions for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Despite the many adverse effects known to be associated with indoor air pollution, over half of all Americans are unaware that poor IAQ is one of the top five most urgent environmental risks to public health. Rotobrush International®, LLC, a leading HVAC industry manufacturer of air duct cleaning equipment, supplies and video inspection systems, and its partner AirAdvice for Homes®, a leading HVAC industry provider of indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring devices, are encouraging HVAC contractors to educate their clients on improving indoor air quality this spring for better client health and service sales.

“New homes are now built ‘tighter’ due to more energy efficient building codes, and a certain percentage of existing homes have been weatherized. These types of homes are more likely to trap indoor contaminants,” said Lane Jeffryes, CEO and President of Rotobrush® International. “Contaminants are usually invisible and often odorless, so you cannot tell through your senses what is there. The first step for contractors is to identify if there is an issue, which bridges to the next step of showing the homeowner exactly which services they can provide to fix it. The AirAdvice for Homes monitoring system provides assistance with both of these steps, and is offered exclusively in our air duct cleaning machine packages.”

“AirAdvice for Homes has monitored more than 60,000 U.S. homes over the past five years, and we know from our research that 97% of homes tested have lower than acceptable levels of IAQ,” said Don Aultman, CEO and President of AirAdvice for Homes. “Paired with the fact that 96% of homeowners are willing to purchase products to improve IAQ, especially once provided with a professional analysis of the problem and a recommended solution, contractors can boost their bottom line through simple client education.”

The AirAdvice for Homes monitor identifies these IAQ issues. Contractors place the monitor in a home, where it continually measures and transmits data for a week concerning six areas of air quality (temperature, humidity carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, particulates and volatile organic compounds such as chemicals and odors) to the AirAdvice for Homes data center. Contractors log into the company’s website to generate comprehensive reports from the data gathered, diagnosing IAQ issues and providing solutions. They can then share these reports and solutions with the homeowner as part of their IAQ services.

Indoor Air Quality Facts and Statistics*

1). Since 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has consistently ranked indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks to public health.
2). In nine out of 10 homes (91%), particle allergen levels (dust, dander, pollen, bacteria, spores and smoke) are outside the recommended range.
3). Each year, 342,000 lives are claimed by lung disease overall.
4). Around the world, a death occurs every 20 seconds due to poor indoor air quality; each day in America alone, 11 people die from asthma.
5). Since 1980, the asthma death rate for children under 19 years old has increased by nearly 80%.
6). Spending on medications to relieve allergy and asthma symptoms stands at over $5 billion a year.
7). During each minute of the more than 21 hours we spend inside our homes and other indoor spaces each day, we breathe an average of 12 to 20 times per minute, taking in one to two gallons of air.
8). Each of those 12 to 20 breaths per minute—or in the case of our children, an average of 16 to 30 breaths per minute—contain not only the oxygen we need to stay alive, but also any airborne pollutants that may be present.
9). Indoor air pollution levels are typically two to five times greater than outdoor levels, and occasionally even 25 to 100 times greater.

Indications of IAQ Problems in a Home*

1). Excessive dust
2). “Stuffy” rooms
3). Some rooms feel hot or cold when the rest of the house feels comfortable
4). Moisture on window panes
5). A mildew (musty) smell in your home
6). Family members often sneeze, feel lethargic, or have dry skin
7). In-room air cleaners are in use in the home
8). Air fresheners or scented candles are used to improve the smell in the home

Recommendations for Improving IAQ*

1). Inspect, clean and repair dirty and/or compromised duct work.
2). Homeowners can install mechanical ventilation, which dilutes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by introducing fresh outdoor air. Mechanical ventilation is like opening window, but doing so in a more energy efficient manner.
3). Use a doormat—a wipe-off mat will cut down on one of the biggest carriers of particulates in home: the bottoms of shoes.
4). Use high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) or central vacuum system.
5). Limit smoking indoors.
6). Use exhaust fan while cooking.
7). Use bathroom exhaust fan.
8). Wash bedding frequently in hot water of at least 140°F.
9). Limit indoor flame sources.
10). Limit the use of scented candles and/or room fresheners.
11). Seal door between house and garage.

*Source: AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report

The following graphs are from an actual home reading provided by an AirAdvice for Homes monitor:

ABOUT ROTOBRUSH® INTERNATIONAL, LLC

Rotobrush® International, LLC, based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is a market leader in providing businesses and entrepreneurs with turnkey packages and unique opportunities in integrated indoor air quality and energy efficiency services and products. Rotobrush is committed to its customers’ success, supporting them with world-class training and marketing and business support. Rotobrush has more than two decades of experience and serves both residential and commercial markets, domestically and internationally. For more information visit rotobrush.com.

ABOUT AIRADVICE FOR HOMES®

AirAdvice For Homes®, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, develops innovative technologies to monitor and analyze indoor environment factors that impact occupant comfort, health and safety. The company enables residential HVAC contractors to identify opportunities to improve the operational efficiency of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and solve indoor environmental quality issues. More than 1,500 contractors and 30 distribution companies across North America use the AirAdvice for Homes™ system. For more information, visit www.airadviceforhomes.com.