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Air Pollution in Home: What it is and how it starts

Posted by
Ed Miller on Thu, Jul 16, 2015

More often than not, when asked about air pollution, people generally reference outdoor pollution caused by environmental factors outside of their control. Did you know that air pollution in home can be a source of pollution that has been found to affect short-term and long-term health for many people? By simply doing daily activities like cooling your house, showering, cooking meals and cleaning, you could be unknowingly adding to your home’s pollution levels, but there are ways to ensure the levels stay manageable and you and your family stay healthy.

What it is: Air Pollution in Home

An obvious pollutant is cigarette or cigar smoke that can hang in the air for hours and even days.  But what about the not so obvious ones? Living in Florida means having to deal with unique weather conditions that may affect pollution levels in a home. Florida weather is hot and humid a good portion of the year. Water in all forms needs to be removed from the inside of a home regularly before it can cause mold damage, one of the biggest sources for indoor air pollution. Other sources of indoor air pollution in home are pollen, household cleaning products and gases like carbon monoxide. Additionally, you might be surprised to discover scented paraffin candles are on the list. Burning candles create toxins and the burning scent can cause allergies in many people with allergy sensitivities.

Common Areas Where Air Pollution is Found

  • Air Conditioners

  • Non-Vented Bathrooms

  • Dehumidifiers

  • Attic with little or no venting

  • Pets

  • Flooding or leaking around windows, basement or roof

  • Kitchen with inadequate venting

  • Basement Carpeting

How Air Pollution Begins

 Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are a way of life in Florida. Regular cleaning and maintenance is very important in the quest to limit air pollution in home. Both of these home appliances work to remove water from the air. Water is either routed from the appliance to the outdoors or it is collected within a container that must be emptied. These containers can grow mold if the water is not emptied regularly or if the equipment isn’t working properly. If unchecked, the mold continues to grow and can cause allergic reactions. Keep mold at bay by having yearly equipment inspections and emptying the containers regularly.

 Knowing how to cool your house properly also will help keep your home safe from mold. You don’t want to cool the air too fast which could stop your air conditioner from removing moisture if it is not able to run long enough to do its job. Keep your air conditioner’s temperature at a moderate level or increase it slowly until at the temperature you like.

 In a bathroom or kitchen not properly vented, steam can wreak havoc on walls and floors because mold will begin growing when water sits for lengthy periods. Over time, if the amount of ventilation in the home is not correct, the mold will build up and depending on the wall or floor material, will begin to cause real damage, including wood rot and disintegration. Ensure your house is properly vented and the humidity level kept under 50 percent to avoid having a potential mold problem.

  Another source of pollution is in the household cleaners that you may use every day. Cleaners and air fresheners both contain chemicals that can cause allergic responses in people over time. Make sure to spray cleaners in well-ventilated areas and check out the environmentally friendly cleaners available today.

  Most causes of air pollution within a home can be controlled with the proper knowledge, care and regular maintenance of the house and its appliances. If you’re in need of A/C maintenance today, contact the experts at Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning

 

Where you’ll find Snyder

Snyder Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electric serves families across Florida. You'll find our technicians are just a short phone call away in neighborhoods throughout these counties:

Customer Reviews

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The service from Sam and Chris was excellent! They were very knowledgeable and professional. They were able to answer all of my questions and completed all of my electrical issues. I will definitely use them again for future jobs. Thank you!

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From the get go I could tell that the Snyder employees were truly professionals and didn’t push to make sales like other companies I’ve talked to my whole life. They took the time to explain so that I could make a decision. The installers and later the duct cleaners were very respectful during their work here. Thank you.

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Snyder came in and did a total overhaul of our duct system. They had a great knowledge of what to do to make our home so comfortable! The technicians were all so professional and took great care of us! We’re so thankful for their expertise. Great and easy communication with the call center. We will definitely use them again!

-Crystal Hill

Snyder provided an amazing experience from start to finish. Most of us dread getting estimates with pressuring salespeople. Erik was a great guy, explained all my options and didn’t try to pressure me to act quickly! Justin followed up with my husband and I to offer further assistance in our decision. Again, no pressure, just helped with our follow up questions.

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Very prompt, professional, courteous, and cleaned up after repair. Had water line break in my front yard and no pressure. Very pleased and would highly recommend Snyder for all your plumbing, and AC needs. Thank you for making a rough morning get better with ease and professionalism.

-Chuck Jr.

Snyder was easy to get in contact with and had availability the next day. Clint came out and needed some parts so had to reschedule us for the next day for installation. He did a great job converting our old 3 knob shower to one. Looks great! Professional and courteous. 100% recommend this company, especially Clint.

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Very thorough and professional Job

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