Category: Indoor Air Quality

When you stop to consider the fact statistics tell us Canadians spend almost all of their time indoors, it becomes obvious the quality of the air in our homes is a priority. While everyone needs to be concerned with air quality whether it’s at home, at work, or even in the classroom, there are a few groups that need to be especially aware for specific health reasons.

Those with suppressed immune systems, allergies or asthma are particularly susceptible as are children and people with lung diseases. Of course, you need to be aware of the sources of indoor air contaminants and these are classified as either biological like the dander from pets, or chemical like carbon monoxide and even second hand smoke.

Being aware of the symptoms that affect your health in important. While coughing and sneezing can mean that you’ve caught a virus or cold, these two factors can also mean you’re dealing with poor indoor air quality.

Other aliments include dizziness and nausea, as well as nose, throat and even eye irritation. One quick way to determine if there is an issue is by comparing the air inside and outside of your home. If your symptoms clear up dramatically when you stay away from home for a short or longer period of time, the issue could very well be with the air quality inside your residence.

As HVAC specialists in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville we’ve long said that sleeping in a room with excellent air quality enhances the quality and depth of a good night’s sleep, but a recent study from Harvard confirms the link. Harvard’s School of Public Health’s recent study found that air pollution increases the risk of poor sleep patterns, and as such should be treated as a quality-of-life issue.

Poor air quality can increase the risk and severity of Sleep-Disordered Breathing disorders, including sleep apnea, and allergies due to airway and lung irritation from pollutants. The study from Harvard found that there was an increase in sleep apnea symptoms of 13%, from the increased pollutants during the summer months, an important air-quality fact given that 17% of adults have some form of SDB. The increase in allergy symptoms due to poor air quality and its airborne fungi and bacteria can also contribute to a poor night’s sleep. It is estimated that 1 out of 6 allergy sufferers do so because of the poor air quality inside of their offices and homes.

Having an HVAC specialist in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville remove air pollutants from your indoor air will allow you and your family to breathe easier and sleep deeper—and is an overall good idea since indoor air is generally 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor, but can be up to 100 times more polluted.

How to Improve the Air Quality in your Home

There are a number of contributing factors to poor indoor air quality inside your home that can be easily remedied by the following:

·Using natural, plant-based cleaners (especially in bedrooms) in place of chemical-based cleansers with harsh irritants

·Regularly changing your heating and cooling units’ air filters

·Regular HVAC maintenance

·The installation of an air purifier

·If needed, the addition of a humidifier or dehumidifier

·Ensuring that your bedroom has adequate ventilation and air circulation

If you’re concerned about the air quality in your home, call us at Furnace King, your local HVAC specialists in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville, and we can perform an air-quality assessment and make recommendations on ways you can enhance the quality of air in your home through proper air flow, air filtering and ventilation.

Statistics reveal Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors. That means the more time we spend inside and the more airtight our homes become, the more exposed we are to indoor allergens and irritants. That’s why improving the air quality of your home is so important and doing so the natural way makes sense. Here are some tips from the experts at our heating & air conditioning Mississauga firm to help make your indoor environment healthier.

· Think Green. Decorate your home with indoor plants that effectively remove chemicals from the air and improve air quality. Use natural cleaning products which contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or toxic chemicals that can be released into the air as gases causing problems for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory ailments.

· Use good judgment. Never smoke inside your home. Control pet dander by brushing pets outdoors and cover your mattress and pillows to protect against dust mites. Dust often and vacuum regularly.

· Improve air ventilation. Mississauga air conditioners can keep humidity down and reduce pollen and pollutants in the air. Make your A/C system even more effective by installing a disposable HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to help purify the air in your home and change filters often.

Even something as simple as removing your shoes at the door can help to prevent dirt, dust and other particles from spreading throughout your home.

There are two things that should get your attention about carbon monoxide. First, it is a colourless and odourless gas and that means you need to have a functioning detector to be aware when there are dangerous levels in your home. The second is the fact that this common byproduct of the burning of fossil fuels can be deadly if your exposure is long enough and there are at least 13,000 parts per million in the atmosphere.

Beyond the obvious need to choose from the variety of detectors available for the one best suited to your inside living space and understanding the things you can do to lessen your risk by using only the detectors that are Canadian Safety Standards (CSA) approved, you should know symptoms of CO exposure.

You might feel like you’ve got a cold or the flu with mild exposure and only have a runny nose or sore throat with a headache. However, these symptoms in an area around fireplaces might mean you need to look at the chimney or flue for obstructions.

Medium exposure is more dangerous and here the symptoms are confusion and even vomiting. Extreme exposure results in brain damage and even death in some situations.

Remember that if your CO detector is sounding, the best response is to get everyone out of the house.

When you stop to consider the fact statistics tell us Canadians spend almost all of their time indoors, it becomes obvious the quality of the air in our homes is a priority. While everyone needs to be concerned with air quality whether it’s at home, at work, or even in the classroom, there are a few groups that need to be especially aware for specific health reasons.

Those with suppressed immune systems, allergies or asthma are particularly susceptible as are children and people with lung diseases. Of course, you need to be aware of the sources of indoor air contaminants and these are classified as either biological like the dander from pets, or chemical like carbon monoxide and even second hand smoke.

Being aware of the symptoms that affect your health in important. While coughing and sneezing can mean that you’ve caught a virus or cold, these two factors can also mean you’re dealing with poor indoor air quality.

Other aliments include dizziness and nausea, as well as nose, throat and even eye irritation. One quick way to determine if there is an issue is by comparing the air inside and outside of your home. If your symptoms clear up dramatically when you stay away from home for a short or longer period of time, the issue could very well be with the air quality inside your residence.