INDOOR AIR – YouTube – Save Us NOW
More and more modern homes suffer so-called “sick building syndrome” and indoor pollution. As heating and cooling systems have gradually replaced fans and open windows and improved building materials and methods have eliminated gaps, leaks, and drafts, our homes essentially become closed environments. Without proper ventilation, small amounts of indoor contamination and pollution gradually become concentrated, affecting the health and safety of your home environment. According to the EPA (Environmental Protections Agency), your indoor air is up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.
The good news is that you can combat indoor pollution in a number of ways. For starters, just open up those windows! When the temperature outside is pleasant, forgo the heat or AC: circulating fresh outdoor air through your home can help dilute the concentrations of pollutants in your indoor air, lowering their impact on your family and health. However, your best bet is to increase ventilation and eliminate inside contaminants with professional cleaning services.
There are a variety of sources of indoor air pollution, from household cleaning products and humidity to building materials and heating fuel. However, there are generally only a few places these pollutants can lurk. Carpeting and furniture are prime culprits-while vacuuming removes dirt and debris from the surface of your carpet, environmental contaminants like dust, pollen, and bacteria are still embedded deep within your carpet fibers. Routine carpet cleaning can help eliminate this gunk and grime, washing it away with a thorough hot-water extraction system.
But perhaps the most overlooked contributor to poor interior air quality is actually your heating and cooling system. Your furnace and AC themselves tend to be low-grade emitters of pollution, but it’s actually your ductwork that’s most to blame! Over time airborne particles like bacteria, dust, and other pollutants build up inside your ducts: when you turn on the furnace or air conditioner, it blows air through the dirty ducts, circulating these contaminants directly into your home. Professional duct cleaning is the best way to eliminate these pollutants and dramatically increase your indoor air quality. Air duct cleaning simple scours and vacuums out the debris in your ducts, ensuring that your HVAC system is circulating clean air.
One final note on interior air quality; if your home has a mold problem, clean it up! With varying degrees of toxicity, not all molds are deadly, but they do all contribute to degraded air quality. From musty smells to visible staining, mold problems are usually pretty obvious. If you’re unsure whether your home is suffering from mold, contact your local mold remediation specialists. They’ll be able to inspect and test for mold, as well as clean up the problem. Remember, mold removal is a job for the professionals-for safety, containment, and complete clean-up, you need trained experts. All mold really needs to grow is moisture, so if your home is too humid or has suffered from a flood, you probably have mold. Keep in mind that water damage restoration following a flooding incident can help prevent mold growth, so be proactive if you’ve had a water event in your home.
The average American spends between 60% and 90% of their time inside. That puts YOU at risk from low-quality indoor air. Take control of the situation increasing ventilation and deep-cleaning your home to remove trapped contaminants. A variety of professionals from carpet cleaners to mold remediation companies can help. learn more about interior air pollution at EPA.gov and contact your local cleaning specialists to help make your indoor air cleaner and your home a healthier, safer place to live and breathe.
Matt Gallo is a home improvement specialist and the Internet marketing manager for Prospect Genius, offering local companies affordable, effective SEO.