Healthy Homes Now

Preparing for Spring Cleaning; Don't forget to Clean the Air in Your Home!

With Spring just six weeks away,perhaps you might want to add 'cleaning the air' to your list of spring cleaning chores. Deep cleaning of the house is a spring cleaning tradition. We all tear things apart, vacuum, dust get behind furniture and the kitchen appliances and clean windows during our spring cleaning spree. How many of us think to clean out the dirt inside the duct system? Why bother doing all of that dusting and cleaning when, once you turn on the HVAC or air conditioning , it may replace the dust you just cleaned?

Add the following to your Spring Cleaning checklist

• Get the ventilation cleaned by a local, reputable NADCA certified company.
• Clean or change your HVAC filters. A dirty filter makes your system work harder and use more energy.
• Clean your dryer's vented air duct to avoid potential fire hazards and for efficient operation

What Is NADCA?

This is a good question!  Most people do not know what NADCA is. However, if you are looking for a duct cleaning company to come to your home it is very important to check their credentials. NADCA stands for National Air Duct Cleaners Association. The best description regarding NADCA comes straight from their website.

"The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) was formed in 1989 as a non-profit association of companies engaged in the cleaning of HVAC systems. Its mission was to promote source removal as the only acceptable method of cleaning and to establish industry standards for the association. NADCA has expanded its mission to include the representation of qualified companies engaged in the assessment, cleaning, and restoration of HVAC systems, and to assist it members in providing high quality service to their customers. The goal of the association is to be the number one source for the HVAC cleaning and restoration services: first time, every time."  You can read more on NADCA on their website at www.nadca.com     Here, you will also be able to look up NACA certified companies in your area. Yes, Indoor Air Professionals is NADCA Certified. We currently have eight (8) certified employees. You can find more on IAP's credentials on their website at  http://indoorairpro.com/website_2008/IAP/for_home.html?getpage=best_choice

Testimony From Those That Had Their Air Ducts Cleaned in Their Home

Often people who get their ducts cleaned will talk about the great staff and service. While those are attributes that a company strives for, the results are what makes the service superb.  There is testimony from customers that speak of improvements that duct cleaning did for them and their home.

"Great service - your rep explained everything he was doing - my house "smells better" already! Thanks! " Betty Ann Roberts / Buffalo NY

"This is the first time we had this done. My wife has bad asthma and allergies. Brian and Joe did a wonderful job" Ken Meyer /West Seneca NY

" Since our cleaning, the quality of our air has definitely improved" James Stelley / Amherst NY

" I used to be on four inhalers a month and have to visit the Dr. once a month. Since I got my air ducts cleaned and purchased a Healthway air purification system, I am only using one inhaler a month and going to the Dr.'s once a year." Anonymous

" You were very helpful/explanation of process- interesting/ what you removed was disgusting. Turned on the air conditioner the next day and could feel the difference you made!" Maureen Hand / Wheatfield NY

"Amazing difference in the dust level. I have a mahogany dresser sitting beneath a ceiling area vent. I would dust it daily when the 'air' was on. I didn't need to dust for almost a week-and my dark wood floors " Diane Stenbak / Snyder NY

" I just appreciate so much to be able to breathe well in our home. Thank you- the difference is incredible" Nancy O. / Williamsville NY

" I was please with the professionalism of the technicians and the effective results. My house was definitely less dusty after a week" Jennifer Ostrach / Depew NY

Ten Reasons to Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned in Your Home

1. Decrease Energy Costs - An air duct system that is full of dust makes your furnace work much harder than is should, which costs money in additional heating expense.  The restriction on your furnace filter from dust accumulation puts added strain on the furnace blower.  This could result in an expensive motor replacement.

2. Moving to a New or Previously Occupied Home - whether you are moving into a new home or a previously occupied home, you are moving into someone else's dirt. Often in construction of homes, ventilation systems are not protected, thus leaving drywall dust, construction debris and whatever else gets swept into the system. When someone else has already lived in the home, there may have been pets, children and rennovations taking place where you can find all sorts of things in the air ducts from pet hair, dander, toys, rennovation debris,ect.

3. After Rennovations -  How many people actually protect the ventilation system while making rennovations in their home?The answer is not many. Even after rennovation is complete, not all dust particles were cleaned up and often make their way into the ventilation system.

4. Sensitivity to Dust - People with respiratory disorders such as asthma , sinuses, allergies , emphysema, COPD, upper respiratory infections, are sensitive to dust,dander and other particles and chemicals that are in the  air of their home. Cleaning the ventilation system is an extra precautionary step that can improve the air inside your home. Cleaning the ventilation system and getting a quality air purifier can reduce athma and allergy symptoms.

5. Prevent Fires -  Lint and dust is combustable. Paying close attention to cleaning the laundry exhaust in your home is especially important to prevent potential fire.

6. Water Leakage - If there was water leakage in your home and it got in the air ducts there could be a potential for mold growth, if it's not there already.

7. Mold - Molds can produce allergens, irritants or potentially toxic substances so prohibiting their growth is a good way to protect your health. If you suspect any mold contact a mold specialist to see if it is in your ventilation system and have them devise a plan of action to get rid of it.

8. Reduce Household Chores -  Sometimes an increase in dust in your home is due to a dirty ventilation system. Getting this cleaned out and using a quality filter that is changed at least every three months can help to reduce dust particles in the air. When vacuuming your home, use a HEPA filter vacuum that will capture small particles.

9. Furnace Airflow - If you notice a lack of air flow to a room or that you have to keep the thermostat up higher than you would like , chances are there may be something obstructing the path of airflow.

10. Increase the Air Quality of your Home -  Wihout an air exchanger in your home, your home does not breath fresh air. The ventilation system recirculates the same air. Especially in the winter when so many homes are air tight now, people are not breathing fresh air inside their homes. When this happens, the ventialtion system can also recirculate germs, bacteria, dust and debris that can cause allergy and asthma sysmptoms to flair. Cleaning and sanitizing your ventilation system can get rid of harmful stuff. It wouldn't hurt to look into an air exchange sytem either.  

 

Asthma Home Environment Checklist to Help Reduce or Eliminate Asthma Triggers

The EPA compiled a checklist for to help you identify the environmental asthma triggers commonly found in your home. You can find out more about this checklist at http://www.epa.gov/asthma/pdfs/home_environment_checklist.pdf

What Do Dust Mites and Sleeping Have To Do with Asthma and Allergy Symptoms?

_{Imagine lots and lots of little dust mites having a hay day and playing in the privacy of your bed! Worse yet, YOU are the reason they stay. During the day, they mull around in your mattress, waiting for you to return—because you are their absolute favorite environment!  Your body supplies them with warmth, food and water which is everything they require to flourish and raise their hordes of offspring. Certainly this isn't a very pleasant thought but, even more so, it is not good for your health. The dust mites and their fecal particles often trigger asthma and allergy symptoms, making a restful night near impossible.}

_{People spend the bulk of their day, at least a third of the day, in the bedroom. It is apparent you take measures to rid your bedroom of these pests to reduce your night time symptoms. Although you may not rid your bedroom completely of dust mites, there are solutions that can reduce them drastically. Two easy solutions; bed and pillow protectors and an air purification system and plenty of vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum.}

_{The fabric used to make the mattress and pillow protectors should have pores that are woven tight enough but allows body vapor to breathe through protector,so that mites can’t penetrate them.  Using encasements for your mattress and pillows work as a barrier between you and dust mites.  At night, when dust mites emerge from your bed and pillows, this sheet and pillow encasement keeps them from making their way through the sheets to you. We found a great protector used by 5 star hotels and it's affordable too!} 

http://shop.healthyhomesnow.com/product.sc

_{Air filtration is important as dust mites and their fecal particle , along with other particles get in the air. When they are settled on the floor, bed or other surface areas they get tossed in the air with disturbance. An good air filtration system can capture that and rid of it for good. choosing an air purifier with an FDA Class II Medical Device rating provides the confidence level needed to substantiate any claims. You can find more about these specific air purifiers at http://indoorairpro.com/website_2008/IAP/for_home.html?getpage=purifiers}

_{Always vacuum with a HEPA vacuum. You need a machine that will capture the particles you are vacuuming off of surfaces.}

_{These three suggestions will help drastically reduce dust mites that affect your asthma and alllergies symptoms, thus improving your sleep.}

Do deodorizers clean the air inside your home? Tea Tree oil gel helps.

Deodorizers mask the problem at hand. They cover up the smells you are looking to rid of and add chemicals in the air. The best solution is to get rid of the problem that is causing the smell in the first place.

Tea Tree Oil has antibacterial properties in it. A tea tree oil gel has been developed to address odors in the air. The gel disapates in the air, killing bacteria , mold and fungi. Many times this is the cause of the odor. An added benefit of this gel is that it is all natural.

You can read more about this gel at http://kanberragel.com/

What Homeowners Think About Indoor Air Quality

In a recent survey conducted by Johns Manville and reported in Appliance Magazine, U.S. homeowners believe the air inside their homes is cleaner than air outside their homes.  But, of course, the EPA believes that the air inside buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air.

This survey found that 65.7% of homeowners are concerned or very concerned about indoor air quality, and homeowner strategies for improving indoor air quality include:

• Purchasing an air purifier - 23.7%
• Cleaning heating/cooling duct - 23.6%
• Upgrading furnace or heating system components - 16.7%
• Making ventilation improvements - 15.8%
• Eliminating or reducing sources of indoor air pollution - 8.6%
• Not taken any steps to improve IAQ - 37.7%

The above information was published in the International Indoor Air Quality Commission (I.I.A.Q.C.) newsletter. The link below will allow you to subscribe. I've always found the information here of interest. http://www.iiaqc.org/newsletter.php

Green Cleaning

Greening Your Home for Health

The following is from the AirAdvice Newsletter for September 2008:

There are a lot of reasons to make greener choices for your home.  “Green” these days refers to any products that are considered to be more environmentally friendly or save energy.  But there is another very important benefit to choosing green products.  Many products that are considered green are made with less chemicals or more natural formulations.  Having fewer chemical pollutants in your home translates to a healthier environment for you and your family.  Here are a couple of areas where making better choices can make a huge difference.

Building and remodeling materials constitute one of the single largest sources of chemical pollutants in a home.  Paints and varnishes, flooring, insulation and just about everything we use to build the modern home are all laden with chemicals that can cause a huge number of health problems ranging from asthma attacks to headaches, sinus issues, fatigue and decreased lung function. 

The good news is companies are now offering more environmentally friendly options for many of these products.  These green building materials are typically lower in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  For example, low VOC paints are readily available, insulation can be made from newspaper instead of fiberglass treated with harmful chemicals and flooring can be made from bamboo or cork, reducing chemicals associated with traditional wood varnish or carpeting.  For resources on low VOC building materials, it’s as easy as doing an internet search for “Low VOC building materials” and you get a huge list of companies devoted to helping you make your home healthier and more environmentally friendly.

Cleaning products are another big source of chemicals, and one of the easiest areas where you can make a change.  The broom closet that may have held glass cleaner and floor wax twenty years ago now holds a mind-boggling array of single-use, throw-away cleaning products for every nook and cranny of the home.  This explosion in the number of products has taken its toll.  Almost all of these cleaning chemicals are not good to breathe, and have huge warning labels about using them in well-ventilated areas.  Unfortunately, with all of the air quality testing we’ve done here at AirAdvice, we’ve determined that even when these products are not in use, they are still releasing small amounts of chemicals into your home. 

However, there is a bright side.  Today, natural and fragrance free cleaning products are also more readily available.  Look for products that list ingredients you can pronounce or that do not use artificial fragrances.   Many of these items can be found at your local grocery store, at natural stores or by ordering them online.  Another great solution is to look for “home remedy” recipes online to make your own cleaning products!  Using recipes made from simple, less harmful ingredients like vinegar, borax (non-toxic), castor oil and glycerin, you can create home formulas that work as well or better than many of the toxic mixtures found at your local store.  For help, ideas and recipes, just do an internet search for “home remedy cleaning products”.  You may be surprised at just how well these forgotten and healthier formulas can work to keep your home clean.

Clean Up Mold to Improve Health

I came across the following article in the July IAQ Newsletter published by the International Indoor Air Quality Commission:

Even with all the national media attention that has alerted the public to the destructive and possibly toxic dangers of mold that could affect family health, it is often not considered as a possible cause of common ailments.  A recent magazine article reported that there was a child who was sick for weeks.  The child was being treated for an upper respiratory infection but was not betting any better.  Through a reference, anindoor air quality specialist conducted an air quality testin the home along with visual inspection and found black mold.  The mold was remediated and the child immediately began to improve.

Mold exposure as been related to the following conditions:

- Itching or irritation of the nose, eyes, throat or skin
- Mysterious skin rashes
- Sinus infections or congestion
- Respiratory problems, sneezing/coughing
- Upper or lower respiratory infections
- Fatigue
- Frequent headaches
-Trouble concentrating, memory lapses, confusion
- Mood swings, anxiety, depression
- Chronic aches and pains
- Digestive problems