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What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

Posted by
Ed Miller on Sun, Dec 30, 2012

With high concentrated levels of indoor air pollution, it is essential to be proactive at improving the quality of your indoor breathing. There are numerous household indoor plants that can scrub away the air pollution within your home.

Surprisingly, indoor air pollution in your house can be up to five times as bad as the pollution on the outside of your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are conditions of home air pollution that are up to 100 times worse than the outdoors. The results of these high numbers are usually obtained by household chemicals that include cleaning supplies, perfumes, and hair sprays. A licensed, bonded HVAC contractor can repair the inefficient heating and cooling unit to assist in removing these harmful chemicals.

Building Materials Emit Pollution

Many times, homeowners are subjected to numerous building materials that are known to expel poisonous gases many years after the home was built. These include paints, plywood, carpets, particle board, computers, cabinets, and many synthetic materials. The toxic chemicals tend to harbor inside the home because the house is well insulated, trapping the poisons inside for years, and providing an inescapable environment where we continually breathe them in.

Some Indoor Plants Detoxify Air

However, there are remedies to the problem that are natural in design. Research indicates that specific indoor plants have the ability to detoxify the air by about 85%. Based on the interaction of the plant, it can act as an air filter and literally suck up many of the harmful chemicals including benzene, carbon monoxide, and trichloroethylene along with formaldehyde. Oddly, most of these chemicals are a common occurrence inside all of our homes.

Formaldehyde tends to be expelled from particle board, glues and plywood. It is most likely emitted from carpets, walls, and cabinets. Benzene is an ingredient that is found in latex paints, foams, dyes, rubber, oils and detergents. It is also in building materials and cigarette smoke.

Trichloroethylene is often emitted from lacquers, carpet shampoos, spot removers, adhesives and paints. Carbon monoxide is often released from gas stoves and poorly maintained furnaces. Additionally, high levels of carbon monoxide tend to find their way into the homes through attached garages that contain car exhaust. Carbon monoxide is extremely poisonous and can cause immediate death.

Helpful Detoxifying Plants

By purchasing household plants to remove the harmful toxins from the air, you can easily clean up the air pollution floating about. These plants include:

    • Peace Lily
    • English Ivy
    • Drachenas
    • Spider Plants
    • Ferns – especially a Boston Fern
    • Palms – primarily Bamboo and Areca

To maintain the indoor air quality of your home, it is essential to keep the doors and windows open throughout the day to provide fresh air, and you should have a routine maintenance program to keep your HVAC system operating efficiently. With fresh air circulation, and household plants that can scrub the air, you can decrease the pollutants and live a healthier life indoors.

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:

  • NORTH FLORIDA
  • Alachua
  • Baker
  • Clay
  • Duval
  • Flagler
  • Nassau
  • St. Johns
  • SOUTH FLORIDA
  • Broward
  • Martin
  • Miami-Dade
  • Palm Beach
  • St. Lucie

Customer Reviews

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-Christy Cormier

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!

-Adrienne Beal

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.

-Mike Daniels

Snyder Heating and AC is dependable, always on time and techs have always been courteous and knowledgeable. Emanuel was a great addition to the company. He was friendly and knew what he was doing. Thank you for great service.

-Linda Ackley

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.

-Michele Bauer

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.

-Nicole Hansen

Very thorough and professional Job

-John Ridenour

Excellent work. Hard worker. Highly recommend.

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