Indoor Air Quality

How safe is the air we breathe?

In today’s world our homes and buildings have become vastly more efficient in terms of preventing heating or cooling loss or gain. Unfortunately these buildings have become so airtight that they actually prevent the indoor air contaminants from escaping. While the entire world has been making concentrated efforts to clean up our outdoor environment, recent studies showed that indoor air is often found to be 60 to 90% more pollutant than outdoor air. The Environmental Protection Agency has recently listed poor indoor air quality as a major health concern, and OSHA is currently moving forward with new compliance legislation.

Studies have shown that poor indoor air quality can cause headaches, sneezing, asthma, breathing problems, allergies, skin irritations, mental fatigue, body aches, eye, nose and throat irritation, respiratory problems, cancer, legionnaires disease, and more. Poor indoor air quality also causes premature replacement of HVAC equipment and furnishings, increased utility cost, musty or stale odors, and in some cases costly lawsuits.

What causes sick building syndrome?

The ventilation system is the source of approximately 80% of all indoor air quality problems. The HVAC system is the main breading ground for these contaminants. Dirt, dust pollen, dust mites, plant spores, animal dander, smoke residue, cleaning agents, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde can all be found inside your home or office building. Once inside, these contaminants are sucked into the heating and air conditioning systems where condensation provides food for the growth of molds, bacteria, and fungus. Over the years the accumulation of these bacteria, and gases leads us to what is now known as sick building syndrome.

What can we do?

Paul's Duct Cleaning specializes in the removal of all HVAC contaminants. We use the industries best portable HEPA-AIRE vacuum, which is capable of removing contaminants 30 times smaller then those visible to the naked eye. The vacuum is used in conjunction with our air-sweep compressor, which is sent down each duct to loosen the living contaminants clinging to the duct surface. Once all ducts are cleaned the entire ventilation system is fogged down with an EPA approved disinfectant to ensure little chance of survival.

The cleaning of the ventilation system is only temporary if the heating and air conditioning systems are not cleaned properly. Paul's Heating and Cooling is not a carpet cleaning or chimney sweeping company. We're a licensed residential and commercial HVAC contractor certified to work on all aspects of your HVAC system. We are also members of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association and thus abide by their principles and procedures.

The air conditioning equipment is the number one source for molds and bacteria. They live in the coils, drain pan, and blower compartment. If these areas are left uncleaned, then it is only a matter of time before growth is spread back into your ventilation ducts and into your body. Clean HVAC systems will also help you save money on your electric bill.

To have your system professionally cleaned
please contact Mitch Nevel at (847) 550-0440.

IAQ FACTS AND INFORMATION

• The American Lung Association estimates that we spend 90% of our time indoors, and indoor air can be 2 - 50 times more pollutant than outdoor air.
• Statistics show that 50 million Americans suffer from allergies caused by substances found in the home or office.
• Frequent disposable filter changes can not stop contamination. These filters only stop approximately 10% of the dust and pollen while 90% passes through your HVAC system.
• Deaths related to asthma have risen 40% over the past 20 years.
• The World Health Organization listed Sick Building Syndrome as a high priority due to the large number of people potentially at risk.
• An EPA study showed that indoor air may be as much as 100 times more pollutant than outdoor air.
• The World Health Association estimates that 30% of the world’s modern buildings are plagued by indoor air pollution.
• IAQ litigation has been increasing every year, and recent IAQ lawsuits have commanded hefty settlements.
• When the HVAC system is in operation, contaminants are re-circulated continuously. By turning the system off, contaminants are allowed to grow and accumulate.
• Children are more likely than adults to be effected by polluted indoor air because they breathe faster, inhale more air per unit of body weight, and are closer to the ground where there is a greater concentration of contaminants.
• A study conducted by NUS found 57 commercial offices having unacceptable levels of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing agent found in furniture glue. They also found that 60% of the buildings tested had unhealthy carbon dioxide levels.
• The effects of dirt and dust cause 9 out of every 10 heating and cooling system failures.
• The Total Health and Better Health Magazine stated that 1 out of 6 people who suffer from allergies do so because of the direct relationship to the fungi and bacteria in the air duct system.
• The EPA stated that a build up of just 0.042 inches of dirt on a heating or cooling coil can result in a decrease in efficiency of 21%.
• The average adult inhales 2 tablespoons of household dust a day.
• The average six-room house collects 40 pounds of dust per year.
• SRP stated that dirt can cause your unit to loose up to 20% of its efficiency, and that they can also cause expensive repairs when the evaporator coil gets dirty.
• A report published by the EPA in 1990 ranked indoor air pollution as the highest risk to human health among all types of environmental problems.
• There are only two ingredients needed for the growth of microbial contaminants like mold, fungi, mildew, and bacteria. The first is a source of carbon-based nutrients, which includes common household items like dust or animal hair. The second is moisture, which is found in your air conditioning system.
• The journal of the American Medical Association stated that the risk of respiratory infection is 45% higher among occupants of energy efficient buildings.
• 42,000 dust mites can be found in one ounce of dust.
• Only a total system cleaning, including all the ductwork, fans, coils, and other components, will yield positive results. Naturally this is only a portion of the system is cleaned, the areas which were not will quickly re-contaminate the rest.
• "Children, elderly people and people with breathing problems, allergies, and lung diseases are particularly susceptible to disease-causing biological agents in the indoor air" EPA - Department of Consumer Affairs.
• Contaminated air-handling systems have been associated with outbreaks of Pontiac Fever. ACGIH

DUCT CLEANING

Watch our duct cleaning video to see how we work!

If your home is more than one year old, you’ve recently done any remodeling projects or anyone living in your home suffers from allergies, asthma or any other breathing related illness – it is recommended that you have your air ducts professionally cleaned. Additionally, a clean ventilation system will allow your heating and air conditioning system to work more efficiently and reduce operating costs and prolong the life of your equipment.

Paul's Heating & Cooling has been performing duct cleanings since 1965. Prior to performing any ventilation cleaning, our experienced technicians will perform a full diagnostic test on your ventilation system, including but not limited to a inspection that will allow you to see the condition of your duct work both before and after the cleaning. The technician will also inspect for any leaks and moisture content.

Also, it is important to keep in mind that your ductwork is part of a complete heating and cooling system. Many companies that offer duct cleaning are not qualified to service your furnace, central air unit or other components of your complete comfort system such as humidifiers, filtration systems or even the fabrication or installation of the ductwork itself.

Our professional technicians will treat both you and your home with respect. Tarps are put down to protect your flooring and all employees wear clean booties over their shoes. All cold air grilles are covered with a magnetic sign material to insure maximum suction and keep the debris in the ducts and not in your home. We invite our clients to view a inspection of their duct work both before and after the cleaning to see for themselves the condition of their indoor air quality.