Is Your House Making You Sick?
Here’s a scary fact…your house may be making your family sick. Consider this… the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says, “6 out of every 10 homes or buildings are sick; they are hazardous to the health as a result of airborne pollutants.” https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-air-facts-no-4-sick-building-syndrome
The term “Sick Building Syndrome” (SBS) is used to describe homes or buildings whereby "the occupants experience acute health and comfort issues that appear to be linked to the time they spend there, but no specific illness or cause can be identified,” says the EPA.
Reports show that most sick homes or buildings are sick because of flaws in the heating and cooling system(s). Issues causing SBS that can be traced to the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) system include:
Inadequate ventilation
This mostly occurs if HVAC systems do not effectively distribute air to the occupants. Increasing ventilation rates and air distribution often can be remedied with a conversion to refrigerated air or a replacement of an existing HVAC system with a newer one that meets today’s ventilation specifications. Newer systems come with accessory options that can monitor and control IAQ.
Biological contaminants
Bacteria, mold, pollen, and viruses are types of biological contaminants. These contaminants can breed in stagnant water from evaporative coolers, ducts, humidifiers and drain pans, or where ever water collects. Biological contaminants caused by these can show up on vents, ceiling tiles, carpeting and/or in insulation. These harmful contaminants are especially seen in homes with swamp or evaporative coolers.
Chemical contaminants from indoor sources...
Some bad indoor air comes from sources inside your home or building. For example, carpeting, upholstery, adhesives, manufactured wood products, pesticides, and cleaning agents emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde. Use of these chemicals will emit bad air into your living or work spaces. Tobacco smoke also contributes high levels of VOCs and other toxic compounds inside. It is never safe to smoke inside.
...and from outdoor sources
The outdoor air that enters a home or building is a source of indoor air pollution. For example, pollutants from vehicle or lawn equipment exhausts coming from the garage or into the plumbing vents enters the living or work spaces through poorly located air intake vents, windows, and other openings.
If you suspect that you have a sick house, or just want to prevent it in the future, call Total Air. We have solutions to help you. Call 915-585-0909 for a free system estimate. Or, schedule it at www.totalairep.com/contact.
