Indoor Air Quality Problems
Common indoor air quality problems and inside air pollution can affect you at both your home and your place of work. This means it’s essential to find a reputable Phoenix-area indoor air quality services company to conduct routine deep cleaning of your air ducts and vents. Why Is Indoor Air Quality Important? Perhaps the most significant thing anyone can do to improve their quality of life is to improve the quality of the air they breathe. Indoor air pollution is a real safety hazard, and all it takes is a single exposure to a pollutant to trigger adverse health effects. According to the EPA, most people spend about 90% of their time inside. Furthermore, indoor air tends to be more polluted than outdoor air. When you combine these two statements, it’s easier to understand why it’s essential to take indoor air pollution seriously. What Are The Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution? There are both short- and long-term health effects of indoor air pollution and breathing in allergens, contaminants, or pollutants inside your home. A single exposure can lead to an array of symptoms: Difficulty breathing Dizziness Eye, nose, and throat irritation Fatigue Headaches Nausea These symptoms’ intensity can change dramatically depending on your age, history of respiratory issues, and levels of previous exposure to the allergen or pollutant. Luckily, if these symptoms occur in a place you infrequently visit, such as a retail store, you will usually start to feel better once you leave that location. However, repeated or extended exposure can lead to serious long-term health effects, such as cancer, heart disease, or respiratory diseases. What Causes Indoor Air Quality Problems? The sources of indoor air quality problems and pollution are often the same as the sources of outdoor air pollution: Combustible products, like coal, gas, kerosene, and wood Radon Pesticides Smoke from Arizona forest fires The air outside often makes its way into your home or business through poor ventilation, open windows, and doors, or your building’s air exchange. This makes it all but impossible to escape outdoor air pollution. There is also a bevy of sources that come from inside your home or business too: Allergens Asbestos Central heating and cooling systems Dust mites Furniture made from some wood-based products Household cleaning products Humidifiers Recently installed carpets, flooring, or upholstery When you consider that outdoor air pollution can often enter your home and mix with the contaminants and pollutants inside, it becomes easier to understand why indoor air is often more contaminated than outdoor air. What Are The Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality? One of the clearest signs you’re dealing with air quality issues inside your home or place of work is your health. If you find that you’re coughing, sneezing, or wheezing in either location, but those symptoms cease once you leave, it’s likely you’re dealing with the effects of poor indoor air quality. However, there are other signs that a location contains low-quality air: Condensation on walls or windows Dirty or dusty central heating and air-cooling equipment Frequent comments from guests about a musty smell Items, such as books or shoes, contain visible signs of mold Stuffy air If you discover any of these signs of indoor air quality problems, you must take steps to rectify the situation immediately. How Can You Improve Your Indoor Air Quality? There are many ways to improve indoor air quality, however, here are three key ways to improve a building’s air quality: Eliminate sources of pollution Improve the building’s ventilation Use air cleaners or purifiers Eliminating the source of pollution can be a cost-effective way to improve air quality. For instance, if your home or business uses asbestos-containing insulation, you can re-seal the area, so particles don’t escape into the air. The easiest way to improve ventilation is by opening a window to allow fresh air inside. However, this method may not always be enough to remove all pollutants, and if the weather outside is cold or rainy, you may not want to keep your window open long enough. Another common source of ventilation problems is clogged or dirty dryer vents. When a dryer vent becomes clogged, it can also become the source of a fire. The final option available is the use of air cleaners or purifiers. Modern air purifiers can improve air quality and kill germs, further helping to reduce the effects of poor indoor air quality. Eliminate Indoor Air Quality Problems in Phoenix with A-Z Air Duct Whether the issue is at home or your place of work, A-Z Duct Cleaning offers a variety of indoor air quality services: Air Duct Cleaning Air purification at Home or at Work Dryer Vent Cleaning Dusting Negative Pressure Air Duct Cleaning If you’re in the Phoenix area, give us a call today at 602-466-2234. You can also reach out through our website. Sources: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/inside-story-guide-indoor-air-quality https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/iaq_intro.html https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/identifying-problems-indoor-environments Featured Image Credit: Francesco Scatena / Shutterstock CONTACT US TODAY
Stay Cool This Summer & Save Money with Professional Air Duct Cleaning Services in Phoenix
When the summer starts heating up in Arizona, one of the best ways to stay cool is to make sure your air conditioning system is functioning at its most efficient level. Air duct maintenance is vital to the overall function of your HVAC system, so a professional Air Duct Cleaning Services in Phoenix can make a real difference in the system’s performance. Due to the excessive heat levels, Air Duct Cleaning Services in Phoenix and maintenance performed by a professional air duct specialist is particularly important if you want to make sure your air conditioning is keeping you cool all season long. How an Air Duct Cleaning Service Works A professional air duct cleaning is a thorough, multi-step process that results in a cleaner and more efficient system. Although modern-day HVAC systems are better at staying clean than older types of systems, it is especially important for those sensitive to dust to explore cleaning options. Regular filter replacement can cut down on the pollutants that circulate through the ducts, but some types of pollutants are difficult to filter out with standard home filters. Once they are trapped in the ducts, they will circulate throughout your home. The goal of a professional AC duct cleaning is to remove these circulating contaminants as well as any that have built up on the walls of the ducts through a few steps. Evaluation and assessment of air ducts Professional grade dust removal from the air inside ducts Loosening of stuck debris or fragments on duct interior Antimicrobial treatment in some cases, if needed Go over the results of the cleaning and make recommendations Immediate Air Duct Cleaning Benefits After your HVAC system has been cleaned, some of the effects can be immediate. One of the most important effects of a clean system is an increase in the air quality of your home. A system that needs maintenance cleaning will continue to circulate the large volume of dust that is introduced into your home over the course of a year or since the time of your last cleaning. For individuals with respiratory issues or dust allergies, this can be a real challenge. Another major benefit that can be noticed immediately is the increased efficiency of your HVAC system. Your system should be able to maintain the temperature settings more easily without running excessively. Long-Term Air Duct Cleaning Benefits In addition to an immediate reduction of allergens, a regularly cleaned and maintained HVAC system can have long-term benefits. By keeping your air ducts free from build-up, you can reduce the stress on the system and decrease the chance of costly service and repair down the road. One of the biggest long-term benefits of a regularly scheduled AC duct cleaning is energy savings. A properly performing system uses less energy to function, which can save you big money on your electric bill over time. Phoenix is known for its heat, so keeping cooling costs down is a goal most area homeowners are striving to meet. Schedule Your Air Duct Cleaning Services in Phoenix Today! Whether it has been a long time since your last cleaning and you notice your system isn’t running as efficiently as it should, or you are sensitive or allergic to dust and need to keep your air quality as high as possible, scheduling an AC duct cleaning can be beneficial to your home. By scheduling regular professional cleanings, you can help increase the longevity of your system, remove circulating contaminants that are reducing your air quality, and save on energy costs by reducing your electric bill. If you are ready to schedule your cleaning, contact A-Z Air Duct today to set up an appointment or ask any questions you have about Phoenix air duct cleaning. Looking for Professional Air Duct Cleaning Services? CONTACT US TODAY
