Are You Haunted by Bad Air Quality?

You may think that the scariest thing this month might be the ghosts and monsters wandering around your neighborhood this Halloween, but the real thing to fear is poor air quality, despite the work your HVAC system does in your Burlington, NC home. According to the EPA’s guide to Indoor Air Quality,

“In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.”

As it turns out, it’s not the monster hiding under your bed, it’s the pollutants in your air. Don’t fall prey to these dangers. With all of this in mind, we’ve compiled 3 air quality horrors that you should avoid this fall.

1. Air Full of Dust and Allergens

If your ducts and filters aren’t clean, you could have pet hair, dust, and even mold floating around in your air, and consequently into your lungs. By doing regular maintenance of your ducts and changing your air filters, you can prevent all of these from affecting your health.

2. Poisonous Building Materials in Your Home

Believe it or not, there may be poisonous materials in your home. Make sure to check for asbestos so you can deal with it and get rid of it. In the meantime, if you have any you can follow the EPA’s guide to preventing source specific pollution. Most importantly, don’t try to rip or handle it yourself. Call EPA’s TSCA assistance line at (202) 554-1404 to find out whether your state has a training and certification program for asbestos removal contractors and for information on EPA’s asbestos programs. Of course, if you have any questions about this, you can also call us at 252-756-2166 and we can guide you through the process.

3.  Poorly Circulated, Stale Air

Circulating new air, perhaps from outside if it isn’t polluted, is essential for a healthy home and HVAC system. If you air isn’t circulating, use fans or bring outdoor air to make it healthier. This gets pollutants out and makes it feel less stale.

Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into your Burlington, NC home. Opening windows and doors, operating window or attic fans, when the weather permits, or running a window air conditioner with the vent control open increases the outdoor ventilation rate. Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors remove contaminants directly from the room where the fan is located can increase the outdoor air ventilation rate.

Ready to Get Defeat Your Air Quality Monsters?

Of course, these are only a few sources of indoor air pollutants. To learn more, check out the EPA’s full guide. In addition, don’t be afraid to seek our help with any questions you have on how you can include the indoor air quality in your home. Barber Heating and Air offers 24 hour service 7 days a week with someone always on call ready to serve you. Our promise is that you never talk to an answering machine you always talk to a person. Take the time to make sure your HVAC unit is working and you get the best air quality possible. By investing time and care into your HVAC unit, you are investing in improving the air quality around your home or business. Of course, that investment is made easier with HVAC Burlington, NC professionals who are devoted to the installment and maintenance of your HVAC system.

If you’re ready to get started, request a quote today! We promise no tricks, only the treat of worry-free heating this October.