5 Ways to Breathe Easier at Home

Winter is a glorious time of year. The weather is getting colder and the days shorter.  If you are like most Americans, your family is spending more time indoors as the outdoor activities of Fall wind down. That is why now is a great time to think about your indoor air quality.

Air pollution is a major concern in the U.S., especially near heavily populated areas.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that indoor air is often 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air.

How can this be? And can you do anything to help?

The amount of air pollution in your home is affected by several factors and there are many sources of pollution. Some of these sources come from outside your home.

Other sources come from inside. Some you can control, others you cannot.

Outdoor Pollutants

Outdoor pollutants and allergens enter your home by infiltration and ventilation, directly affecting the air in your home. Pollutants like car exhaust, pollen, smoke, insecticides, fertilizers and mold spores hitch a ride into your home on air currents, your clothing, shoes, hair and pets.

When these pollutants settle on surfaces outside, wind, rain, and sunshine combine to neutralize, sweep and wash them away. Unfortunately, this is not the case inside your home. These same pollutants tend to accumulate inside your house on floors, furnishings, surfaces and in the air.

Indoor Contaminants

Because we live, eat, sleep, and often work in our homes, we generate a significant amount of allergens and pollutants.  Did you know that you shed around a million dead skin cells every day?  These dead cells are a food source for dust mites as well as other microbial life forms. Dust mite feces and dead dust mites are potent allergens, and every home has millions of them.

House pets also contribute to indoor air quality issues. Then there are the sticky residues from cooking gases that settle on surfaces. Certain types of furniture, plastic and textiles also release gases that affect indoor air quality.  If you have a furnace that burns fuel such as gas, oil, or wood, by-products of combustion add to the problem.

Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to improve indoor air quality.

• Invest in high quality air filters for your HVAC system. These filters are rated based on their efficiency at trapping tiny particles. The rating is called MERV. The higher the MERV rating, the more effective the filter.
• Professional Air Duct Cleaning helps to remove contaminants that accumulate on the inner services of your HVAC system.
• Use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA style filtration which traps the smallest particles, including dust mite feces, dead skin, pollen and mold spores. Other vacuum cleaners simply spew these tiny particles back into the air, making matters worse.
• Use the bathroom exhaust fans and range hoods to remove excessive humidity and cooking gases that can contribute to indoor air pollution. High humidity encourages bacteria and mold growth.
• Cleaning carpets, upholstery, and area rugs returns them to a healthy condition and improves indoor air quality by removing pollutants and allergens that bond to these surfaces.

Don DeLeeuw, Owner, Healthy Home Services of Colorado

Getting Your Air Clean

You and your family deserve a clean, healthy home. Clean your home regularly, keep your systems maintained and use professional carpet and upholstery cleaning services to keep your home looking, smelling, and breathing at its best.  “A Clean Home is a Healthy Home.”

Contact Healthy Home Services today for more tips or to schedule your next Air Duct Cleaning appointment.  Call 303.466.3366

“A Clean Home is a Healthy Home”.

CC Newsletters and Don DeLeeuw