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Regular everyday actions such as cleaning with chemical products can cause temporary a drop in our homes' indoor air quality, specifically an increase in tVOCs. 

What are tVOCs?

Total Volatile organic compounds (tVOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. tVOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many tVOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.

Ventilation and tVOC Events Notifications 

  • What is a ventilation and chemical event?
    • a tVOC event is any event where your IAQ falls into the poor range as a result of chemical saturation.
    • We firmly believe in the three pillars of IAQ - Ventilation, Filtration and Humidity Control. 
    • Ventilation is key to resolving tVOC issues in your home.
    • Air movement in your home helps to regulate temperature, prevent particle buildup and ensure mold does not form. Fresh air makes breathing easier for all home occupants and can aid in dispersing tVOC odors and fumes. Air movement is central to resolving any IAQ issues.
    • Make sure you have your exhaust fans on when you are cooking and cleaning. You could also set your HVAC system to continuous temporarily during these kinds of activities.
  • Why is it bad for your health?
    • tVOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination and nausea, damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system, cancer.

 

What you can do to mitigate tVOC events

There are several approaches an IAQ savvy homeowner can take to reduce the effects of tVOCs.

  • Many homes have a bathroom and/or kitchen fans. These can expel stale air outside your home and are the first line of ventilation defense. This type of system depends on outdoor air to leak in through various gaps in the house to replace the air being exhausted by the bathroom fan.
  • Additionally, introducing clean fresh air by opening a window or door is a quick way to remedy a tVOC event. Remember to keep the outdoor air quality in mind.


What your HVAC system can do 

Getting your HVAC system to work for you is a great way to resolve tVOC events.

  • Your HVAC system can help dissipate tVOC events. A Central Air Handler will move air around your home and over time, replace the air in your conditioned space with fresh clean air
  • Running an ERV or HRV is a great way to freshen the air in your conditioned space. HRVs and ERVs are similar devices in that both supply air to the home and exhaust stale air while recovering energy from the exhaust air in the process. The primary difference between the two is that an HRV transfers heat while an ERV transfers both heat and moisture.


What HAVEN can do for you

One of the best ways of handling tVOC events is by utilizing the HAVEN ecosystem of products.

We've developed a range of products and software to ensure we can both monitor & solve IAQ events.

  • The HAVEN Central Air Monitor is a solid-state IoT device that continuously monitors your air, capturing tVOC and PM data and notifying you directly of any IAQ issues you need to be made aware of.
  • The HAVEN Central Air Controller works in tandem with the Central Air Monitor to react to IAQ events and control your HVAC equipment in order to solve IAQ problems.
    • eg. when the Monitor senses a chemical spike, the Controller can activate your ERV/HRV to introduce clean fresh air.
    • You'll receive notification of this action via the HAVEN IAQ App, just like the image below.

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    • Once the Monitor is satisfied that your air quality has re-entered EPA-approved thresholds, the Controller will cut out the blower motor.
    • We'll let you know once your tVOC levels have dropped back into the good realm. That's HAVEN automatically controlling the air you breathe.


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  • If you don't already have HAVEN products installed, peak to your HVAC contractor today about adopting HAVEN products to control your air.
    • They can reach out to us at prosupport@haveniaq.com for more information. 
    • We'll help them find the best solution to resolving any IAQ concerns you may have.
       
       

       

      If you have any questions about our HAVEN IAQ products, our dedicated Support Team can be contacted directly via 1-888-964-2836 or support@haveniaq.com

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