Is your home or office free of indoor air pollution? Did you know that indoor environments tend to be more polluted than outdoors? So if you haven’t had your indoor air quality in Damascus, OR tested, now is the time.
If you can’t have your IAQ professionally tested yet, but you want to have fresher and cleaner air, the first step to accomplishing this goal is to know the sources of IAQ and get rid of them.
There are many sources of indoor air pollution, including tobacco products, cleaning, and disinfecting products, cooking stoves and open fires, and building materials and furnishings. Each of these sources can release pollutants into the air. Some of these pollutants can even cause health problems.
Tobacco Products
Tobacco products are a major source of indoor air pollution. Cigarette smoke contains tons of chemicals, including benzo[a]pyrene (BP), known to cause cancer.
Secondhand smoke exposure is especially harmful to children, who are at increased risk for ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory illnesses. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are also at increased risk for health problems from secondhand smoke exposure.
This air pollutant is pretty easy to get rid of. You just need to stop smoking inside your home and avoid using products containing tobacco.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Products
Some cleaning and disinfecting products contain chemicals that can be harmful to your health. So as ironic as it is (cleaning products are supposed to keep your place clean), yes, your cleaning products can contribute to poor IAQ.
These chemicals can include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released into the air when you use them. VOCs can cause various health problems, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
It’s quite impossible to stop using cleaning products completely. So your best bet is to find and switch to VOC-free cleaning products.
Open Fire and Cooking Stores
Cooking stoves and open fires can release carbon monoxide, soot, and other particulate matter into the air. These pollutants can cause health problems, especially for people with heart or lung conditions.
This one is also pretty easy to solve. It would be best if you had enough ventilation at home.
Building Materials
Building materials and furnishings can also release pollutants into the air. Some building materials, such as insulation and particleboard, can release formaldehyde into the air. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and exposure to it can cause health problems such as respiratory irritation, headaches, and nausea.
If any or all these sources of indoor air pollution are present in your home and you cannot get rid of them yet, fret not because there are products nowadays designed to get rid of impurities in your indoor air.
Some of the products you can install are dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and UV lamps. If you have a ducted HVAC system, make sure to have your ductwork checked and cleaned to prevent dust and dirt build-up.
If you’re looking for a company that offers indoor air quality solutions in Damascus, OR, then look no further than Control Techs NW. They have a team of highly trained and experienced professionals dedicated to providing their customers with the best possible service.
Control Techs NW offers various services that can help improve the quality of your indoor air. They offer air duct cleaning and HVAC system cleaning, to mention a few. Visit them online or contact the team at 503-983-8913 to learn more about their services.