Category: Air Quality

How many times have you thought about the air you’re breathing? Do you think about it at home? At work? Do you think about it when you’re out shopping? Probably not, but you should be aware that the indoor air quality (IAQ) in both residential and commercial establishments may be very poor, creating a potentially harmful environment. In an effort to help raise awareness, we have put together this overview of common Indoor Air Quality myths and facts that every person should be aware of. Indoor Air Quality Facts: Health Concerns of Poor Indoor Air Quality Poor IAQ can cause a number of health problems, including: allergies, irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and throat, frequent headaches, sinus congestion, dizziness, nausea, hypersensitivity, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath. Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality Some common air contaminants that may lower IAQ include: tobacco smoke, mold spores, dust, pet dander, dust mites and carbon monoxide among others. The number and types of indoor air contaminants will vary from one establishment to another. Your home will not have all the same contaminants as your local store, or nearby business. Indoor Air Quality Myths: Air Pollution is an Outdoor Problem When people

You want your home to be safe, secure, and comfortable. You want it to be warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and to not cost you a fortune in the process. But, what if the very system that brings you this security is also a breeding ground for serious health issues? Don’t pack up just yet. There could be a low cost, easy solution. “The more your ‘sealed’ home is for energy efficiency, the more germs, pollutants, and allergens it’s keeping in,” says MightyServ. “In order to maintain humidity and temperature levels, the same air is continuously recycled throughout a home. This increases comfort, but it can also increase health risks. Breathing certain mold spores can cause illness – or even death – and they can develop inside the dark and damp environments of your duct system.” In fact, indoor air quality can be up to 70 times more polluted than the air outside your home.  So what can you do? MightyServ Heating and Air recommends these measures for maintaining a healthy home: Have ventilation systems cleaned annually to help eliminate dirt and mold growth. A qualified technician should check to be sure that all return air is run through the

As we shift to spring and a warming trend, it’s the perfect opportunity to check the status of existing air conditioners and fans. Before the extreme summer heat sets in, homeowners should explore the condition of exhaust fans, cooling fans, and air conditioners. Any interior fan covers that are in place should be removed and washed with warm, mild, soapy water. Shop vacuums can work wonders when cleaning the filters and the interiors of fan units. A thorough examination of exterior fan ducts and dryer vent hoses and caps is necessary to rule out any damage or debris buildup that could have accumulated over the fall and winter months. For the highest functioning air conditioning units, all equipment should be inspected and serviced by professionals. Spring time marks a great time to get air conditioners and fans in working order. Professional air conditioning repair and installation companies effectively assess any air conditioning repair needs and offer the appropriate maintenance advice and service.

By insulating and sealing your ducts, you can improve the efficiency of your system dramatically. Your conditioned air can easily be thrown back into areas that are not conditioned with proper ducts or ones that are improperly sealed. You will definitely be losing efficiency when this happens. Also, the non-conditioned air will be pulled by the non-sealed ducts and will cause your system to work that much harder to keep the desired humidity and temperature in your home. Different appliances such as furnaces and water heaters can also release gases that are dangerous like carbon monoxide which may then get sucked into the ducts through return ducts that are leaky. With that said, below are 3 benefits of duct sealing services. Energy savings This is usually the most common reason why people look for duct sealing services. When you are saving energy, you are going to lower your energy bills, which means a job that is high quality, can pay for itself over the years in energy savings. It also benefits our environment to conserve energy. The less amount of energy you use to keep your home comfortable, the less of an environmental impact it will have. Comfort Often, you

Indoor air quality in North American homes may not be as safe as we perceive it to be. According to research, about 96% of homes had one air quality issue at the minimum. This finding is supported by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), which estimates that indoor air in most homes can be 5 times dirtier than air outside. Majority of homes, for example, had high levels of common pollutants such as dust, pollen, harmful gases, chemicals and viruses. Are You Safe Indoors? As shown by figures that have resulted from surveys and research, many homes suffer from indoor air quality that is below par. Common pollutants such as dust, along with biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds, animal dander and dust mites often contribute to health issues that are serious enough to cause sickness and certain diseases, particularly among sensitive individuals such as children and the elderly. In homes where there is at least one smoker, the threat to health also increases. The American Lung Association states that tobacco smoke (frequently inhaled as secondhand smoke) contains 4,000 different chemicals, 200 of which are known poisons, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and carcinogens. Improving Indoor Air Quality Increasing the quality of