Top 5 Reasons You Need a Home Air Quality Test

home air quality test

home air quality test

Our homes are supposed to be our safe havens. A place where we can live comfortably and with great love for our families. Unfortunately, there are insidious threats inside our homes. That is why we need to take a home air quality test.

We are exposed to many dangers whenever we go outside.

Think about all the fumes from car exhaust pipes. What about all the people who are coughing next to you on the bus? Others kept blowing second-hand cigarette smoke in your direction.

Such pollution hazards make us take pause and try to figure out how to mitigate our exposure next time. Yet, we never seem to do the same for our homes. It is the threats we haven’t identified that pose the greatest risk to our lives.

Keep reading to find out more.

Reasons to take a Home Air Quality Test

Thus far, we mentioned ‘hidden’ threats inside our homes. Here are the reasons a test will benefit us:

To detect life-threatening Carbon Monoxide gas

One of the biggest threats that people face at home is carbon monoxide poisoning. From 2010-2015, more than 2,200 died because of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. If you have a faulty gas line, a damaged water heater, or a blocked fireplace vent, you could be inhaling this dangerous gas.

Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it prevents vital organs from getting oxygen. Other symptoms of poisoning include nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Worst-case scenario is that you will die.

That’s why it is important to have a home air quality test done by an expert.

To eliminate Allergy Triggers

Anyone who suffers from allergies will tell you it’s the most annoying health problem to have. In chronic cases, these allergies can kill you.

Take for example an asthma sufferer. Exposure to dust, pollen, and mold will trigger symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Those with mild asthma might survive, but for someone with chronic asthma, it could be fatal.

You have to make sure the air you breathe is clean.

To identify pollutants and contaminants

Mold and mildew are some of the air pollutants sneaking into our homes. These pollutants and naturally formed gasses like Radon can spread in our living areas. The EPA estimates that Radon is the number one cause of cancer in non-smokers.

A home air quality test can identify dangerous building materials such as asbestos. It is better to let an expert deal with asbestos. Breathing its fibers causes lung cancer, mesothelioma, and respiratory problems such as asbestosis. It can also cause stomach, kidney, larynx, and colon cancer.

To prevent Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

You may not know this, but Sick Building Syndrome is an actual problem. It occurs when there are airborne contaminants causing illnesses in the home. The problem happens due to dirty and poorly maintained air filtration systems.

Some symptoms of SBS include:

  • headaches
  • nausea
  • difficulty in concentration
  • fatigue
  • asthma attacks
  • flu-like symptoms
  • a dry cough and hoarse voice

To lower energy costs

When experts check your home’s air quality, they can uncover blocked air vents and damaged HVAC systems. Fixing these systems will improve efficiency and productivity. This, in turn, will lower your energy costs.

Everyone at home wants to know they are breathing clean air and not the polluted air outside. A home air quality test will uncover bad smells and other dangerous pollutants.

Get a professional cleaning service to fix the air quality in your home.

The Benefits of Proper Chimney Cleaning

chimney cleaning

chimney cleaning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A study issued in 2016 showed us that the leading factor that contributed to home heating fires was solid-fueled heating equipment. A large portion of which were chimneys (30%).

Having a chimney is a wonderful thing to gather your family around and cozy up to in the winter months. However, if not taken care of properly, you could run into some serious health problems and damage.

If you’re a homeowner or manage a property with a chimney, it’s time to take preventative action in not becoming part of this statistic.

The benefits of proper chimney cleaning greatly outweigh the costs to clean up a chimney fire or structural damage as a result.

Read on for the benefits of proper chimney cleaning. You won’t’ regret it.

It ensures safety

The most important benefit of chimney cleaning is ensuring you and your family’s safety. Chimney fires, harmful toxins, and smoke fumes are all results of neglected chimney cleaning.

When you use your chimney, you want to be comfortable and confident that no harmful consequences will result. In the cold winter months, chimneys are there to keep us warm and happy.

A routine chimney clean every year will give you the peace of mind to enjoy your fires safely.

It lets smoke escape properly

Have you heard of creosote or soot? These are harmful substances that result from smoke residue on the inside of your chimney.

Eventually and with time, creosote builds up and produces sticky, black, flammable substance.

The more you use your chimney, the more this builds up and becomes a serious fire hazard.

Creosote can also clog the chimney flute and prevent carbon monoxide from escaping the home.

With a routine chimney cleaning, you can be sure smoke is escaping properly without residue in the way.

It heats your home properly

Not only will a routine cleaning allow the smoke to properly flow out of your home, it allows for an overall better heating of your home.

When creosote builds up in your chimney walls, the circulation of cooler air weakens your fires efficiency. Meaning more fossil fuels are burned and more wood will be needed.

A clean kept chimney results in peak efficiency and proper ventilation.

It lessens the chances of costly repairs

The last thing a home or business owners wants to do is spend hundreds or even thousands to fix a structural chimney problem when it could have been prevented.

The National Fire Prevention Association says fireplaces should be inspected at least once a year, if not more depending on how often you use it. If you’re using it as your main heating source, you may need to get it cleaned a few times a year.

Having a routine clean will allow the professional to catch any signs of structural damage or any other problems that are on the rise.

The cost of cleaning up a chimney fire or structural damage to a smoke stack will greatly outweigh the cost of a yearly preventative cleaning.

Your chimney is bound to experience average wear and tear. Catching problems like this ahead of time is huge.

It’s time you take action in keeping your home and family safe by scheduling a chimney cleaning service. Take action today and contact your professional chimney cleaners at Willard Power Vac!

Why You Should Invest in a High Quality Air Purifier

air purifier

You breathe in about 3,400 gallons of air every single day.

air purifierSo, if something harmful is in the air you’re breathing, it can have serious health consequences.

In fact, a recent study showed that about 2 million people die every single year from air pollution.

Do you know how clean the air you’re breathing is?

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the top 5 reasons why you need a high quality air purifier to boost your home’s indoor air quality.

1. You Have Pets

We all love our four-legged friends – but pet dander can seriously mess with the air quality in your home.

Especially if you have allergies, a poor air quality can only make things worse.

A good air purifier can filter out fur, hair, and other dander.

2. You’ll Breathe Better

Especially if you have people with asthma or other breathing problems, a purifier for the air in your home is a must.

If you continue living in a home with filthy air, your health problems will only get worse, and the frequency of shortness of breath or asthma attacks will increase.

Don’t put yourself or your family at risk.

3. It Cuts Through The Smoke

Even if no one in your home or office smokes, you can still be at risk from your neighbors that light up.

But cigarette smoke doesn’t only smell awful and quickly seep into your furniture.

It also comes with serious health risks, especially secondhand smoke.

Look for a purifier with a HEPA filter to get rid of the dangerous chemicals in tobacco that can easily make their way into your family’s lungs if left unchecked.

Maybe if you drop one off at your neighbor’s house too, they’ll get the hint!

4. It Helps Clear Out Dangerous Toxins

You may think that because you’ve moved into a new home, the air quality is fresh and safe.

In fact, the opposite is often true.

Think about all the chemicals contained in paints, floor varnish, and more. Plus, what about all the dirt that’s stirred up in moving?

An air filter/purifier can help get rid of these dangerous chemicals, so you can enjoy your new home safely!

5. It Makes Your Home Smell Cleaner

Whether you’ve got smelly teenagers living at home or if you just can’t seem to get rid of a funky odor, an air purifier can help.

Stop lighting candles and using potentially harmful air freshener sprays to cover up weird smells.

Instead, filter out the stench and breathe fresh air in your home again with a purifier.

Find The Best Air Purifier For Your Home Or Office

Now that you know what to look for in an air purifier, you’re ready to buy one!

But keep in mind, that doing so is only one small part of keeping the air in your home or office safe.

We offer a variety of air filtration services like chimney cleaning, air duct cleaning, and dryer vent cleaning, among others.

Get in touch with us today to make sure the air you and your family breathe is safe.