Tag Archives: indoor air quality

What Causes Indoor Air Quality to be Poor?

air conditioner cooling fresh system saving energy with clear blue sky background

Learn More About IAQ

The interior of your home or business can run into many issues along the line. Perhaps something that isn’t put in the forefront as much with routine check-ups can be indoor air quality. Yet indoor air quality is an essential thing to keep up with as it can affect the health and behavior of occupants inside. Read below to see how indoor air quality may be affecting you and see what strides can be made to improve upon it. As with anything, be sure to contact a professional if you’d like more in-depth information or recommendations more specifically made to your property.

What causes poor air quality?

Poor air can stem from a variety of reasons yet some common things that can cause it can be an accumulation of the following or stand-alone. Such things can be cigarette smoke, dust mites, mold and mildew, pet dander, household cleaning products. polyurethane, PBB, PCB, formaldehyde, and insects.

How can I improve overall air quality?

IAQ can be improved by a combination of several methods. It’s important to remember that your property has many systems, appliances, materials and even decor and furniture which can affect the air you breathe. (There are VOCs volatile organic compounds found in paints and furniture materials.) Some things that can help improve indoor air quality can start with your AC filters, ideally, these should be cleaned every 1-3 months or every month if there are smokers and pets. Another thing that can often be forgotten is to check your air ducts, the air ducts themselves are basically tunnels that deliver the warm and cold air across the property to vents. Now with humidity and dust, there can be certain things like mold and other contamination that can form inside them which can affect the overall indoor air quality. It’s safe to have your ducts checked at least every 1-3 years or as recommended by your HVAC professional.

What are the symptoms of bad air quality in the home?

Poor indoor air quality can cause some symptoms to emerge and in some cases, those who don’t have allergies or asthma can develop them with exposure over time. Some people may experience certain symptoms over others yet commonly you can experience coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, headaches, sinus congestion, dizziness, fatigue, and dryness or irritation of the eyes, nose, skin, and throat.

How do I get the best indoor air quality?

You can choose to implement professional services or impart some DIY endeavors that can easily be incorporated into your home to improve indoor air quality. An obvious way to cut indoor air quality is to maintain a cleaner home which not only helps with hygiene but can greatly cut dust, animal dander, mold and mildew from the equation. If you’re using household products with exasperating chemicals, make sure to ventilate the area by cracking the window or opening a door. In general, letting fresh air in is a good way to circulate bad air out. You could also invest in an air purifier,  just be sure to keep up with filter changes. The same can be said with filters in your greater HVAC system. 

How do I disinfect the air in my house?

Disinfecting your home can be done without chemicals fairly simply. It can be as simple as letting fresh air in or keeping houseplants. Some houseplants may even pull away from certain toxins from the area as seen with spider plants which are typically placed at bedsides for fresh air. You can also clean with nontoxic chemicals that can take away from less than ideal cleaning experiences. What’s more, essential oil diffusers or beeswax candles can be a great alternative to candles that have certain ingredients that aren’t best to breathe in. 

The most common dangerous domestic pollutants we can find in our homes - concept image

What are the 4 major indoor air pollutants?

  • Asbestos
  • Biological Pollutants
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  • Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products
  • Lead (Pb)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
  • Pesticides
  • Radon (Rn)
  • Indoor Particulate Matter
  • Secondhand Smoke/ Environmental Tobacco Smoke
  • Stoves, Heaters, Fireplaces, and Chimneys
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

How can I check the air quality in my home?

Indoor air quality can be checked with air quality monitors which check levels of allergens, dust, humidity and chemical pollutants in the home. Natural gas detectors can also be added for gas leak detection and can detect not only carbon monoxide but other types of gas as well. 

What instrument measures air quality?

Air quality can be measured by an air quality meter such as the PCE-RCM 15 which is specifically designed to monitor indoor air quality. This meter measures the parameters for humidity, formaldehyde, temperature, PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and TVOC.

What is unhealthy air quality?

An AQI stands for air quality index and can go up to a reading of 500 with 301-500 readings considered as “hazardous.” “Unhealthy” air is read as an AQI of 151-200 and the reading of 101-151 can still be considered “unhealthy but for sensitive groups.” With the “unhealthy” reading everyone can experience adverse health effects.  

Contact A Professional HVAC Company For Assistance

A good way to cut poor indoor air quality from its source is to have an HVAC professional conduct air duct cleaning or change your filters for you. Here are also some tips regarding air duct cleaning 101 that may prove useful to you. Improving indoor air quality is essential in maintaining the health of the occupants inside your property. Contact a professional today to learn more about what efforts an be made to improve it for the better.

If you require assistance with indoor air quality in North Plainfield and Bridgewater, NJ call (908) 755-2950 with DRX DUCT LLC!

Having an Allergic Reaction? There Could be Mold in Your Air Ducts!

Air conditioner system with dirt

Symptoms of Allergic reaction caused by Indoor Air Pollution:

  • Worsening asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems
  • Headaches & nausea
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sinus congestion, sneezing, and coughing
  • Eye, skin, nose, and throat irritations
  • Memory loss, dizziness, fatigue, and depression

Are you or any of your household members suffering from any of the symptoms
listed above?

A majority of people are exposed to mold every day without experiencing any side effects.
However, people that already have preexisting mold allergies can have a reaction if they are
subject to an abundant amount of mold; with symptoms such as wheezing, rashes or hives,
itchy eyes, and respiratory failure. “One out of every six allergy sufferers’ symptoms can be
directly linked to the mold in air ducts.” cited from a 2005 study organized by the National
Institutes of Health in Total Health Magazine.

How to Avoid Mold Growth in Your Air Ducts

As you can see, the air ducts in your home are the biggest culprit. When the air conditioning system
cools down your home it leaves remnants of water inside causing a perfect environment for microbial
growth.

The EPA advises that you should have your ducts cleaned if there is noticeable mold growth on
the surface of your ducts, but there are many areas of your HVAC system that are not easily
visible. In order to bypass mold growth in your HVAC system, you must diminish origins of
moisture and have your air ducts cleaned as needed.

Eliminating and Preventing Mold in Air Ducts

  • Get your HVAC system checked out by a NADCA certified company-having the ducts
    cleaned by a NADCA certified company ensures that you will have your ducts cleaned by
    industry standards.
  • Set your air conditioning system on “recirculate” – by doing this, your system will extract
    most of the mold & pollen from your home.
  • Consider having hardwood floors or tile in your home as opposed to carpet.
  • Before entering your home take off shoes or wipe them thoroughly before entering.

Schedule Your Air Duct Cleaning Today!

Is it time to schedule a cleaning for your home’s air duct system? Seasonal cleaning could help you prevent an unpleasant allergic reaction. Give the DRX DUCT LLC team a call today at (908) 755-2950 to schedule your air duct cleaning in North Plainfield and Bridgewater, NJ. You’ll enjoy cleaner air in no time!

Are Your Dirty Ducts Making You Ill?

Symptoms of Dirty Ducts & Indoor Air Pollution:

We Provide Professional Duct Cleaning fort Dirty ducts You Can Depend On.

Duct Cleaning Dirty Ducts Can Improve Your Home’s Air Quality, Eliminating Some Allergy and Bronchial Issues.

• Worsening asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems
• Headaches & nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Sinus congestion, sneezing, and coughing
• Eye, skin, nose, and throat irritations
• Memory loss, dizziness, fatigue, and depression

As reported by a 2005 study regulated by the National Institutes of Health and cited in Total Health Magazine, the most frequent home allergens deriving from dirty ducts are seasonal pollen, mold, dust, dust mites, animal dander, and chemicals including formaldehyde, capricious organic compounds, traditional paint and finishes, and perpetual fabric treatments.

Fun Fact: One out of every six allergy sufferers’ symptoms can be directly linked to the pathogens & fungus found in their air ducts.

NADCA notes that it helps to think about the HVAC system in your home as the lungs, breathing in and out air. Also, if your ducts look dirty, they probably are. NADCA further goes on to explain that in a regular 6-bedroom house about 40lbs of dust is generated every year. All this dust is being pulled into the lungs of the home and blown back out into the home, on average, about 7 times per day.

You should have your air ducts professionally cleaned every couple of years. More frequently depending on if you are a smoker, have any pets, or if you are having any construction done in the home; dust and other particles from the work can get into the system. You can always check the inside of your vents by sticking your phone or camera inside and take a picture with the flash on. If it looks dirty, then it probably is. Make sure to visit the NADCA website and look for a certified technician close to you.

IN ORDER TO EVADE THE HEALTH HAZARDS CAUSED BY UNHEALTHY AIR:

  • Get your HVAC system checked out by a NADCA certified company- Having the ducts cleaned by a NADCA certified company ensures that you will have your ducts cleaned by industry standards.
  • Set your air conditioning system on “recirculation”– By doing this, your system will extract most of the mold & pollen from your home.
  • Consider having hardwood floors or tile in your home as opposed to carpet-
    Before entering your home take off shoes or wipe them thoroughly before entering.

Keep Your Indoor Air Quality From Becoming a Nightmare

Keep Your Indoor Air Quality From Becoming a Nightmare

Keep Your Indoor Air Quality From Becoming A Nightmare With The Help Of DRX Duct!

DRX Duct Cleaning can help improve the indoor air quality of your new home with a full scope air duct cleaning. When purchasing an older home especially, hidden dangers can exist in the vents. In addition to dust, clogged ductwork may contain mold and bacteria that are hazardous to the health of you and your loved ones. It’s always a good idea to have the air ducts cleaned when moving into a new home. This way, you will know that any contaminants left behind by former occupants are gone, and you are breathing healthy, fresh air!

DRX Duct Cleaning has been in business for over 10 years proudly serving the greater NJ area. Our staff has combined over 75 years of experience in the air duct cleaning and HVAC industry. Additionally, not only are we NADCA members, but we guarantee a NADCA certified technician on-site at every job, every time, with no exceptions! For more information or to schedule an appointment with the most exclusive air duct cleaners in NJ, contact us at (908) 755-2950 today.