Air pollution is a big problem in America. According to a report released in 2014 by the American Lung Association, almost fifty percent of the U.S. population lives in areas where air pollution levels are often dangerously high for them to breathe. That’s a scary statistic but there’s something that makes it even more worrisome: they’re only talking about outside air. Air pollution can occur inside our homes as well, and in some cases, is even more dangerous. According to the Environment Protection Agency, studies have shown that the air inside buildings is often two to five times more polluted than the air outside, and sometime much more. So what’s causing all this pollution in our homes and is there something that your HVAC service professional can do to help? Let’s take a look.

New Carpet

Have you recently had new carpet installed? You may have just brought a cloud of toxic pollution into your home. The materials used to make carpeting often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), organic chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature. This means means they dissipate into the air you breathe.

Heating Equipment

Do you use a stove, space heater, fireplace, to heat or add extra warmth to your home during the winter season? This type of heating equipment produces carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and even particulate, and if your home isn’t properly ventilated, this could create a toxic situation that causes headaches, dizziness, and even respiratory issues.

Paint

A fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into your home’s interior, but it could have a negative effect on the quality of air in your home. Latex paints, oil paints, and paint strippers all VOCs as well as methylene chloride, which has been shown to cause cancer in animals.

Upholstery

New furniture is super comfortable and looks great, but it could be hazardous to your health. All upholstered furniture, but especially the lower priced, assemble-it-yourself stuff made of particle board and fiberboard, off-gasses formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that can also cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, respiratory issues, and allergic reactions.

Air Purifiers

When they hear about the indoor air pollution that can exist in their homes, many people get worried about their health and install an air purifier. The only problem is, the way some of these devices purify your air can actually be dangerous! As Popular Mechanics reported, these air purifiers deliver a “shock treatment designed to kill mold and bacteria” by emitting a mega-dose of ozone. The companies making these air purifiers claim this is perfectly safe, but health experts disagree. After all, ozone is the chief component of smog, a terrible form of outdoor air pollution.

At Premier Heating and Air, we want only the best for our Colorado customers. That’s why we offer indoor air quality services in addition to our top-rated HVAC service. If you worry that the air in your home is less than ideal, contact us for an assessment today!

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