Douglas Cooling & Heating Blog : Archive for the ‘Indoor Air Quality’ Category

Student performance in schools is significantly affected by indoor air quality at home. Typical contaminants from outside, such as power plants and vehicles, combined with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and radon, create a toxic environment indoors. For the best indoor air quality, homeowners and business owners should have their heating and cooling units maintained twice a year. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers residential and commercial HVAC maintenance plans to combat poor air quality indoors year-round.  

Common Causes of Poor Air Quality Indoors

Indoor air quality affects a person’s comfort, health, and ability to work. Your air quality is affected by the temperature, humidity, ventilation and other chemicals indoors. The leading causes of poor air quality indoors are:

• Poor ventilation with your heating and cooling system
• Lack of ventilation to bring fresh air indoors or preventing contaminated air from filtering outside
• Construction or remodeling inside
• Moisture and dampness indoors due to high humidity, leaks, or flooding
• Cigarette smoke from smoking indoors and residue on clothing
• Pesticides and other chemicals tracked inside from clothing and shoes
• Chemicals from cleaning products
• Unventilated damp areas
• Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) from furniture and other interior materials
• Polyurethane found in mattresses

Impact of Poor Air Quality on Students

Common side effects of poor indoor air quality on adults and children include:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
• Dizziness and nausea
• Dry skin and mucous membranes
• Coughing and respiratory infections
• Rashes and reddening of the skin

Students are more susceptible to poor air quality indoors then adults. Children breathe in more air than adults, so pollutants in homes harm them more. Children also have immune systems that are constantly developing and learning to fight different viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants, making them more susceptible to pollutants in the air.

Air filters for HVAC systems become clogged with particles when they aren’t changed on a regular basis. A clogged filter isn’t able to trap and kill pollutants or bacteria that are floating around in the air. Children who battle repeated respiratory infections and other illness, experience less sleep. Aside from continued absences, students who experience unhealthy air in their homes have more trouble focusing and retaining information. Their test-taking abilities become impaired, and their grades suffer tremendously.

Improve Indoor Air Quality  

The quality of your air indoors contributes to several health risks, and in time, it affects your heating and cooling system. To reduce the risk of poor air quality in your home:

• Call a NATE-certified professional at Douglas Cooling & Heating and have your air ducts inspected. Dirt, debris, and other contaminants can collect inside your air ducts. When air passes through contaminated ducts, the air becomes compromised and is cycled throughout your home. Our technicians will clean your air ducts to eliminate any pollutants and replace ductwork that is faulty or old.
• Install ultraviolet lights in your ductwork to kill mildew, bacteria, viruses, and other germs. This prevents the possibility that these contaminants could accumulate in your ducts.
• Replace air filters for HVAC systems on a regular basis, about once every three to four months. The air filters for HVAC systems become clogged if they aren’t changed regularly. During routine HVAC maintenance, our professionals check, clean, or replace your air filters to prevent polluted air from pumping back into your home.
• Invest in a quality dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels. Removing excess humidity improves issues with mold growth and reduces the risk of respiratory infections.

Understand how poor air quality indoors affects students and their academic performance. Create healthy indoor air for your home with Douglas Cooling & Heating’ help. Contact us for HVAC maintenance and get your air healthy for the students in your home.

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When we think of indoor air quality and pollution, we typically only worry about their effects on humans. Humans have close to six million olfactory receptors in our noses, but pets have around 300 million. These furry friends have a great sense of smell, and unfortunately, that means they are affected even more by pollution indoors and poor indoor air quality.

Causes of Indoor Air Pollution

Even when your home is spotless, there are still allergens and other contaminants that float around. Your indoor air quality is compromised on a daily basis without you even realizing it. Allergens can drift through the air and land on surfaces you have already cleaned. Cleaning products, tobacco smoke and other allergens can settle on window coverings and floor rugs, contributing to indoor air pollution. Many homeowners invest in expensive air fresheners to keep their homes smelling nice. However, these items cause more harm than good when it comes to keeping your pet healthy.

Effects of Air Pollution

Poor indoor air quality increases respiratory issues, such as bronchitis and asthma. Chronic asthma and bronchitis sufferers may have worse symptoms if the indoor air quality isn’t improved. Humans may also experience increased allergy symptoms to dust mites, pollen, and dirt floating around in the air. Viruses and bacteria will thrive in a home with poor indoor air quality, leading to weakened immune systems.

The effects of air pollution on pets can be hazardous since most people aren’t aware their pets are susceptible:

• Cigarette smoke affects pets even worse than humans because pets are closer to the ground where the smoke settles. Cats in homes where their owners smoke have reduced lung function compared to cats living in smoke-free homes.
• Cleaning products used in your home leave carcinogens in your air that can cause several health problems for dogs, such as mesothelioma, lung, nasal, and bladder cancer.

Ways to Protect Your Pets

The good news is you can make improvements to your home’s indoor air quality to keep your pets healthier. Below are a few tips to improve your home’s air and keep allergens low:

• Change your HVAC filter regularly. Typically, your filter should be cleaned or replaced once every three to six months for homes without pets. Pet owners should consider changing their HVAC filters once every two months, or more frequently if warranted. The filtration system inside your heating and cooling unit is responsible for trapping and eliminating allergens and other pollutants before they circulate throughout your home.  This will prevent your HVAC filter from clogging and pumping polluted air back into your home.
• Vacuum regularly to remove pet hair, pollen, dust mites, and other allergens from carpets and rugs. When your pets are sneezing, it’s time to vacuum again!
• Buy cleaning products that are safer for your pets. Natural cleaning products, such as baking soda and vinegar, don’t leave behind carcinogens that harm your pets. You can also look at the labels on products before buying them to ensure they aren’t harmful to your indoor air.
• Consider smoking outside and creating a smoke-free environment for your four-legged family members. Secondhand smoke is dangerous for everyone, even your pets. Give your pets the best chance of breathing healthily by eliminating tobacco smoke. Your pets will have stronger lungs and will be healthier without the risk of respiratory issues.

Reduce allergens and other pollutants in your home to give your pets the best indoor air quality! Douglas Cooling & Heating understands how important your pet is to your family. Call us for preventive HVAC maintenance to keep your filtration system operating efficiently.

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New parents have a whole new set of worries when it comes to bringing their newborn home. Indoor air quality shouldn’t be one of them. Proper HVAC preventive maintenance keeps your home’s indoor air clean and healthy for everyone, including a newborn. Before your newborn makes his or her appearance into your lives, call Douglas Cooling & Heating to have your system inspected and maintained by a trusted professional.

Clean Filters Are Key

Clean filters keep your indoor air quality high and allow your heating and cooling system to perform without straining. During HVAC preventive maintenance, a professional will inspect your filter and replace it during the service call. In between your scheduled maintenance, you should clean or change your filter once every 3-6 months. The filter traps and eliminates dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold every day.

When the filter becomes clogged, your HVAC system circulates contaminated air back into your home. A clogged filter forces your system to work harder because the airflow is weakened in your system. If your filter goes too long without being cleaned or changed, you will need an HVAC repair for your heating and cooling unit. HVAC preventive maintenance is the best option for keeping your newborn healthy and increasing indoor air quality.

Check Your Thermostat Settings

Newborns can’t regulate their internal temperatures as well as adults and older kids. Thermostat settings play a significant role in keeping your baby comfortable every season. A baby is healthy and happy when he or she is warm so adjusting your thermostat settings higher during the summer is recommended. Consider setting your thermostat between 76 and 78 degrees when you are home. When you are away, adjust the thermostat setting back a few degrees. Your thermostat during winter weather should be set between the high 60s and low 70s to keep your newborn cozy and warm.

If you only have a manual thermostat, consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat in your home. You can program settings into either type of thermostat for when you are home, away, or asleep. You can rest easier knowing your heating and cooling system is on a schedule from your thermostat, saving you energy while maintaining indoor comfort. For more information on which thermostat is best for your home, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating and speak to one of our professionals. A programmable/smart thermostat also reduces HVAC repairs in the future because your system isn’t continuously running.

Keep Humidity Levels Right

A new baby is significantly affected by humidity in a home. Southern temperatures during the hot months present high humidity levels on a daily basis. Most air conditioners can handle and maintain a comfortable humidity level, but if moisture levels are still too high, a whole-home dehumidifier may be warranted.

What about the winter? Your heating system tends to dry your home’s air out once colder temperatures hit. Dry air can affect newborns more than others in your home since they are so small and have weaker immune systems. Newborns may suffer from stuffy noses and cracked skin in a dry home. Viruses can live and thrive in a sterile environment, so your newborn will be exposed to germs, even more, when your humidity levels are low. If your home gets extremely dry during the winter, invest in a whole-home humidifier from Douglas Cooling & Heating. We offer installation, so the whole-home humidifier works with your current HVAC system.

Increase Ventilation

Since newborns cannot regulate their body temperatures, they don’t sweat like older kids and adults. They become overheated quickly in hot, stuffy rooms. Schedule an HVAC repair to have your home’s ventilation checked before your baby comes home. A professional can boost your ventilation in your home to keep every room in your house comfortable.

Play it safe with your newborn and schedule HVAC preventive maintenance to improve your indoor air quality and the performance of your heating and cooling system. Douglas Cooling & Heating wants your baby and your family to be healthy in any season. Call us today for experienced and trusted HVAC service.

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According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in Americans today. Close to 14% of new cancer diagnoses are lung cancers. In fact, more people die of lung cancer each year than any other cancer. There are a few ways you can reduce the risk of lung cancer in your home. Lung cancer awareness is critical to your help, so consider these 3 tips from Douglas Cooling & Heating to keep your indoor air quality from affecting your health.

Smoke-Free Zone

The most significant tip is to make your home a “no-smoking” zone. Second Hand smoke doesn’t just increase your chances to develop lung cancer. It also increases the risk of respiratory infections, asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Smoke from cigarettes clogs your system’s filter. Preventive HVAC maintenance cleans and replaces filters, but if you smoke in your home, change the filter more often. Raise lung cancer awareness in your home by not smoking indoors and spreading secondhand smoke.

Radon Testing

According to the EPA, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Radon is a radioactive gas that is colorless, tasteless, and doesn’t smell. Radon can be in the ground surrounding your home, in your water, or in the building materials of your home. Radon levels in a home can be very high due to lack of proper ventilation.  

The only way to know for sure if your home has radon is with testing. You can test your home for radon yourself, or you can hire a professional to perform the test. Start with a short-term test to determine your radon levels. You want to perform the test at the lowest level of your home for the most accurate results. If the radon level in your home is a 4 or higher, consider testing again with a long-term test. A long-term test will give you the best information about your home’s radon levels.  

Increase Indoor Air Quality

Increase your home’s indoor air quality with equipment that works with your HVAC system. You will get healthier air and added efficiency with your heating and cooling system. Here are a few things to boost your indoor air quality:

• Air Cleaners/Purifiers: These devices work to pull your indoor air in and clean the air before circulating it back into your home. High-efficiency purifiers can remove higher amounts of contaminants from your indoor air. They improve allergies, asthma, and respiratory functions when used with a high MERV filter.
• Ultraviolet (UV) Lights: UV lights eliminate and prevent the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria, germs, and viruses in your home’s air. They are installed in your duct system to work with your heating and cooling system.
• Dehumidifiers: Humidity breeds dust mites and mold inside your home. Dehumidifiers help control humidity in your air to prevent these allergens from growing. The humidity levels inside your home shouldn’t be above 50%, otherwise your indoor air quality is reduced drastically.  

Aside from investing in air cleaning options for your home, you should have seasonal HVAC maintenance performed on your heating and cooling system. HVAC maintenance keeps your system clear of dust, dirt, debris, and other contaminants. A dirty unit decreases efficiency, increases your monthly electric bill, and leads to expensive breakdowns in the future.

Now is the time to raise lung cancer awareness in your home. Douglas Cooling & Heating’ technicians will provide you with options for increasing your indoor air quality and perform quality HVAC maintenance annually. Contact us today for healthier, cleaner air!

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