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Carpet and Upholstery
Cleaning
We Produce the "WOW" Factor
Healthy Living
Indoor pollution
sources that release
gases or particles
into the air are the
primary cause of
indoor air quality
problems in homes.
Inadequate
ventilation can
increase indoor
pollutant levels by
not bringing in
enough outdoor air
to dilute emissions
from indoor sources
and by not carrying
indoor air
pollutants out of
the home.
High temperature and
humidity levels can
also increase
concentrations of
some pollutants.
There are many
sources of indoor
air pollution in any
home. These include
combustion sources
such as oil, gas,
kerosene, coal,
wood, and
tobacco products;
building materials
and furnishings as
diverse as
deteriorated,
asbestos-containing
insulation, wet or
damp carpet, and
cabinetry or
furniture made of
certain
pressed wood
products;
products for
household cleaning
and maintenance,
personal care, or
hobbies; central
heating and cooling
systems and
humidification
devices; and outdoor
sources such as
radon,
pesticides, and
outdoor air
pollution.
The relative
importance of any
single source
depends on how much
of a given pollutant
it emits and how
hazardous those
emissions are. In
some cases, factors
such as how old the
source is and
whether it is
properly maintained
are significant. For
example, an
improperly adjusted
gas stove can emit
significantly more
carbon monoxide
than one that is
properly adjusted.
Some sources, such
as building
materials,
furnishings, and
household products
like air fresheners,
release pollutants
more or less
continuously. Other
sources, related to
activities carried
out in the home,
release pollutants
intermittently.
These include
smoking, the use of
unvented or
malfunctioning
stoves, furnaces, or
space heaters, the
use of
ozone generating air
cleaners/purifiers,
the use of solvents
in cleaning and
hobby activities,
the use of paint
strippers in
redecorating
activities, and the
use of cleaning
products and
pesticides in
housekeeping. High
pollutant
concentrations can
remain in the air
for long periods
after some of these
activities.
If too little
outdoor air enters a
home, pollutants can
accumulate to levels
that can pose health
and comfort
problems. Unless
they are built with
special mechanical
means of
ventilation, homes
that are designed
and constructed to
minimize the amount
of outdoor air that
can "leak" into and
out of the home may
have higher
pollutant levels
than other homes.
However, because
some weather
conditions can
drastically reduce
the amount of
outdoor air that
enters a home,
pollutants can build
up even in homes
that are normally
considered "leaky."
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