Although your home may appear clean, you may be breathing in microscopic pollutants every day. These pollutants can include bacteria, mold, dust, pollen and more. These contaminants can spread in homes with excess moisture, old energy units and poor ventilation, among other things.
Spring is a wonderful time of year, and no doubt you’re looking forward to opening your windows to let warm, comfortable breezes in. As the temperature goes up and plants begin to bloom once again, the amount of pollen and other contaminants in the air will rise. Without proper indoor air quality products at home, these pollutants can affect your comfort and potentially your health.
Pollen
According to Nasonex and Pollen.com, oak, pine and birch trees are producing pollen which will last through June in the Maryland area. Grasses will begin pollinating the area in May and last until the end of August. These pollens can affect many people with allergies, and can severely impact indoor air quality. Here are some of the ways you can reduce pollen in your home:
- Electric air cleaners: Up-to-date electric air cleaning equipment can capture more pollutants than older models. These units can reduce pollen, bacteria, fungi, pet dander and other pollutants from your air.
- Mechanical air filters These tools capture smaller particles on filtering materials, removing them from the air before they can get out of the ventilation.
Mold
Mold, like pollen, occurs naturally in many environments. It’s normally not a problem, but when it begins to grow indoors it can lead to serious health issues. Mold spores can infect the lungs, causing serious illness when inhaled. Mold can grow in your house when water leaks in, often through basement floors, ventilation, bathrooms or kitchen appliances.
The Environmental Protection Agency advises that controlling moisture is the key to combating mold in your home. There are a number of products that can cut down on excess moisture and reduce mold in your home:
- Dehumidifiers By reducing the amount of moisture in the air, dehumidifiers help to eliminate any mold that may be growing in your home. Dehumidifiers also help to cut down on mildew, another contaminant that thrives in wet environments.
- Ultraviolet lights UV lights cleanse the air of mold and bacteria as they pass through your heating and cooling vents. These lights are mounted in the duct work so they eliminate contaminants before they enter your home airflow In addition to improving the air quality, UV lights also improve HVAC unit efficiency by eliminating the mold and mildew that can restrict airflow.
Energy Equipment in Older Homes
Many older home energy units can release contaminants into your home. However, modern devices are developed for improved energy efficiency as well as indoor air quality. A NATE-certified technician from SMO Energy can advise you on home energy options for better air quality in your home.
In order to promote better air quality in your home, you first need to learn what’s in it. In addition to providing efficient home energy products and services, SMO Energy can also help you improve your indoor air quality. During your energy consultation, our Home Energy Consultants can conduct a free assessment of the air quality in your home, and recommend any products or services that can help improve it. For more information, please contact our helpful staff.