We know what you’re thinking — man, they have a National month for everything, don’t they?
But October is National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month for good reason! The average person spends nearly 80% of their time indoors, and while exterior air pollution gets a lot of attention, it’s the air inside our homes that can be even more dangerous.
The quality of the air we breathe is very important. Many of us suffer from allergic reactions, or symptoms brought on by asthma. There is also an increase in cases of the common cold and other sinus infections in fall and winter. Stuffy noses, sore throats, and raspy coughs abound!
But don’t be so quick to blame all of these health effects on the colder weather or seasonal allergies. Because in fact, the cause of your current case of the sniffles is often lurking inside your abode. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you’re likely to experience up to 100 times greater exposure to air pollutants while indoors than you are outdoors. By neglecting to address these pollutants, you could be putting you and your family in danger.
So what can you do to ensure air quality in the home? It all comes down to one factor: VENTILATION.
Professional air duct cleaning is one way to address the air quality inside your home. Through everyday occupancy, your home’s ducts can become clogged with dust, dirt, and pet hair. When air can’t circulate through a system and filters become especially dirty, they can act breeding grounds for mold and bacteria.
But if you want to truly ensure that your home remains pollutant-free, install a whole-house mechanical ventilation system. This will ensure a continuous flow of fresh air to reduce humidity, odors, particulates, and other potentially harmful substances in the air. As an added bonus, the ventilation provides a much more even temperature and comfort level throughout the home, improving the overall indoor air quality!
There is no time like the present! Make sure that your family remains as healthy and happy as they can this fall and winter, by taking the proper steps to ensure that the air they breathe in the comfort of your home is clean.