Air pollution is not something exclusively related to smog, ozone or toxins released into the atmosphere. In fact, unknown to many homeowners, residential living spaces can be at serious risk for poor air quality related to various forms of pollution. As the sheer number of toxins and sources of pollution increase, homes become more vulnerable to poor air quality. However, this can be combated through professional residential duct cleaning.
Many of these pollutants enter homes through new furniture, carpet cleaning, fresh paint or can simply be tracked in on shoes. These heightened levels of air pollution put you and your family at risk for serious illness and breathing difficulties, and thus should not be underestimated. There are some common sources of residential air pollution that everyone should know about.
Dust
Dust serves as the main source of residential air pollution and the main cause for residential duct cleaning, as it brings together all of the foreign contaminants you want to avoid. Over time, domestic dust accumulates elevated levels of contaminants and allergens. Essentially, indoor air pollution is predominately precipitated by household dust collected on the skin cells of family members and pets, carpet fibers, bacteria, fungi and household chemicals. Sounds gross? It is!
Pet Dander
Pet dander serves as another significant source of allergens in a home. People often think that they are not vulnerable to pet dander if they don’t have pets. But, this isn’t true, as pet owners actually transport pet dander from their own home to others.
Chemicals
Like dust and pet dander, another source of air pollution stems from chemicals. Volatile chemicals originate from a medley of sources such as hair spray, paint, cleaning products and fire retardants. Fire or flame retardants, in particular, present a significant risk, as they’re used to stop fires from spreading, and are found throughout coatings, textiles and thermoplastics.
Radon has also been recognized worldwide as a significant health risk. Many cases of lung cancer have been linked to radon exposures within a home, and after smoking, radon is now seen as the most dominant cause of lung cancer.
And this is just the beginning of what’s lurking in your home’s ductwork! If you’re ready to improve the air quality in your home, call us for residential duct cleaning today.
