Air pollution is an issue
that concerns everyone, but we tend to think
it only exists outside. Up to 90% of our
time is spent indoors and much of that time
is spent at home. Polluted air in your
home can affect the health of you and your family.
Knowing what causes poor indoor air quality
and how to detect the problem areas is the first
step to cleaner air and a healthier living environment.
Read on to learn more about
your home's air quality and how you can take
an active role in improving it. It's easier
to make your home healthier for yourself and
your family. Especially when you have
the right information.
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Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
There
are 3
main sources of indoor pollutants. By
learning more about these forms of air pollution,
you are better equipped to control them.
1. Airborne Particles
Including dust, pollen, dirt,
pet dander, insulation and carpet fibers.
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Pollen |
Particles are often the largest of
the pollutants, but are not visible to the naked
eye. Dust and pollen and the two major
particles that cause hay fever. Dust is
essentially tiny pieces of everything that exists
in, or moves through your house. Pollen
consists of airborne particles released from
trees and other plant life.
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2. Biological Contaminants
Including mold
spores, dust mites, viruses, fungi, bacteria,
yeasts, and algae.Also known as bioaerosols,
they can be living or non-living organisms.
They thrive in warm humid environments and,
because they are so small, these contaminants
can get past the protective filters in the nose
and upper respiratory tract. In so doing,
they can reach the lungs and are highly allergenic.
They can be found in places such as bedding,
upholstered furniture, bathrooms, and damp basements.
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3. Gases and Odors
Including chemical vapors
from gas ovens, space heaters, water heaters,
furnaces, carpets, fireplaces, garages, pets,
cleaning products, furniture, paint, perfumes,
pesticides, and tobacco smoke.
Gases can include carbon monoxide,
formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). Sources for carbon monoxide include
back drafting heating appliances, poorly maintained
fossil fuel heating systems, faulty chimneys,
gas cooking appliances, cigarette smoking and
idling cars in an attached garage.
Formaldehyde comes from building
products, carpet backings and insulation.
VOCs can be released from
synthetic and composite materials used during
the construction, finishing, and furnishing
of a home. They can also come from sources
such as aerosol sprays, paints, cleaning chemicals,
gas cooking appliances, and air fresheners.
Each of these resides in your home and can contribute
to an unhealthy environment.
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Your senses
can help you detect problems
That cause unhealthy air in your home.
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Look
for cracks in walls, sweating windows,
pooled water, peeling paint and mold.
You may need to regulate humidity levels
in your home. |
Can
you hear water dripping? Is your
furnace or air conditioner making strange
sounds? Your heating or cooling
system may be due for a Tune-up.
Is your furnace too loud? Your
ductwork may be leaky or the wrong size
for your home. |
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Smell
mildew? You may have too much
humidity. Sneezing? You
may have a dust, pollen, or mold problem.
If you can still smell your cooking
after four hours, your house is not
adequately ventilated. |
Do
you feel any drafts? You may have
leaks near windows, doors, attic accesses
or dryer vents or your heating and cooling
system airflow may be sized improperly.
Is your skin dry and flaky? Do
you get static shocks? Your house
may be too dry and require humidification. |
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Solutions
that Improve the Air Quality in your Home |
Here
are some simple steps
to help make sure the air in your home is as
clean as it can be so that you and your family
can enjoy a healthy home. Some of these
clean air solutions are easy to incorporate
into your lifestyle and can actually become
a routine part of your weekly household cleaning.
Others will require the aid of professionals
like Service Experts.
Control the quality of the
air in your home by attacking the pollution
where it starts. Here's a checklist with
helpful hints you can do at your house.
Check a few of these off the list in the next
couple of weeks and you'll find yourself breathing
easier.
> Source Control Checklist
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Poor ventilation in your home
can be a major cause of indoor air pollution.
Without appropriate ventilation, you home can
become a breeding ground for bacterial and biological
contaminants. But rest assured, there
are plenty of things you can do yourself or
with the help of a Service Experts professional
to help improve the ventilation in your home.
Here are just some of the main aspects of healthy
ventilation you should be aware of when it comes
to ensuring that your family can enjoy a healthy
home.
> Ventilation Checklist
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A proper filtration system
helps clean the air in your home. There
are many types and sizes of filtration and air
cleaner options available. The effectiveness
of a system depends on how well it collects
pollutants from indoor air and how much air
it draws through the filtering or cleaning element.
> Filtration Checklist
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Tips
to help control dust and other biological contaminants:
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Use
a vacuum cleaner with strong suction,
and a rotating beater brush to loosen
ground-in dirt. Two-ply bags with HEPA
filters ensure the dirt stays in the
bag. |
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Install
hard surface coverings on floors, windows
and furniture –they help repel dust. |
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Avoid
pets inside your home. If you wish to
keep a pet indoors make sure it is groomed
often and keep them away from carpets,
furniture and beds. |
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Wash
bedding weekly at a hot setting. |
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Use
hypoallergenic dust covers on your mattress
and pillows to deter dust mites and
other biological contaminants. |
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Tips
to help control odors, fumes, and gases:
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Keep
interior doors leading directly into
the garage closed. Leave the garage
door open at least 5 minutes after a
car enters or leaves the garage. |
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Extinguish
all burning embers in your fireplace
before shutting the flue. |
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Leave
the door open to any room that does
not have a return vent. |
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Use
non-toxic cleaning products. Keep them
sealed and store them away from high
traffic areas in your home. |
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Eliminate
tobacco smoke in the home. |
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Install
and use exhaust fans in the kitchen
and bathrooms. |
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Tips
to help control the humidity levels in your
home:
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Check
your home for leaks near windows, doors,
attic accesses and dryer vents. |
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Ensure
your ductwork is inspected and cleaned
by a professional. |
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Reduce
static electricity in your home by installing
a humidifier. |
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Maintain
relative humidity in the 35 to 50% range.
Over 50% can promote mold and other
bacterial growths. Below 35% can cause
sore throats, sinus congestion, skin
disorders, warps in wooden furniture
and floors, separation in wood floors,
and gaps in molding. |
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If
you live in a warmer, humid climate,
be certain your air conditioning equipment
is sized properly and ensure it's in
good working order for the best dehumidification.
(If no air conditioning system is present,
a dehumidifier can be a good option
to maintain proper humidity in your
home.) In colder climates, a humidifier
may be used to increase humidity levels
as needed. |
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Have
a precision tune-up performed on your
heating and cooling system twice each
year for maximum efficiency, comfort
and safety. |
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Here
are just some of the many aspects of healthy
ventilation you
should be aware of when it comes to ensuring
that your family
can enjoy a healthy home:
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Have
your kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans tested
to determine if a back draft from another
flue (such as your water heater or fireplace)
is drawing carbon monoxide into your
home. |
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Contain
your renovations to one room at a time. |
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Seal
and vent renovated rooms before continuing
to the next project. |
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Have
an existing ventilation system properly
maintained with regular service. |
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Mechanical
ventilation systems such as Heat Recovery
Ventilators (HRV) and Energy Recovery
Ventilators (ERV) are balanced systems
that bring in and filter the outdoor
air while exhausting stale indoor air.
These systems capture energy and use
it to heat or cool the incoming air
for greater energy efficiency and comfort. |
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Rather
than opening windows for ventilation,
consider solutions that only allow filtered
conditioned outside air to come indoors
and help dilute any pollution in your
home’s air. |
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A
proper filtration system helps clean the air
in your home:
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Determine
the appropriate air filtration and cleaning
equipment for the needs of your family.
Service Experts can help educate you
regarding various options so that you
can choose the option that is best for
the health of your home. |
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Regardless
of the options selected, an important
step in good filtration is the constant
recirculation of air throughout your
home. |
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Remove
up to 97.5% of all airborne house dust
in less than 24 hours, as well as 99.9%
of all allergy causing pollen and spores,
with an air cleaner. |
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UV
lights are an excellent problem solver
in areas where bacteria or biological
contaminants are a concern. |
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UV
lights can reduce and destroy bio contaminants
by bathing them in high intensity UV. |
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For
the complete filtration system, ask
your Service Experts professional about
the newest filtration and purification
system –the photo catalytic purification
system--which combines filtration of
particles and bacteria as well as reduces
odors. |
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