How Serious Is the Threat of Indoor Air Pollution in Your Corpus Christi Home?

It’s only natural to feel safe at home. You close the door and everything that’s outside stays outside, right? Not quite. While you’re no doubt familiar with the dangers of smog and outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution is an even greater concern.

Indoor air pollution comes from a variety of sources: the gas stove in the kitchen, the scented candles you burn in the bathroom and the cleaning agents you use to scrub the floors. All of these things emit toxic fumes into the air that linger within the confined environment of your home.

In January 2015, 3M commissioned a survey that showed just how dangerous indoor air pollution is becoming. The study showed that while most people were acutely aware of the causes and risks of outdoor air pollution, nearly 75 percent of respondents admitted to using products they knew were detrimental to the quality of the air in their home. Over time, use of these products can exacerbate allergies and cause serious damage to one’s health.

Fortunately, homeowners can minimize the dangers of indoor air pollution.  Stop using toxic cleaning agents, scented candles and other items that emit pollutants. Also, check paints, carpets and flooring, furniture, drapes and other household items for their volatile organic compound (VOC) rating. The better the rating, the fewer VOCs they’ll emit into your home’s atmosphere.

Next, pay attention to ventilation. Make sure that you change the air filter in your HVAC system regularly. If the filter gets blocked, it stops filtering the air in your home. It’s also a good idea to inspect the ventilation in your kitchen and laundry room to ensure it’s functioning properly. You should also take steps to ensure mold and mildew don’t take hold in damp areas.

For professional help tackling indoor air pollution, contact the pros at CCAC. We’ll be glad to answer your questions and to tell you more about the services we offer.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air pollution and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Tena Rebernjak/Shutterstock”