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Heating, Air Conditioning and Carpet May be HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH....

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Turtle Clan Global

Indoor Air Quality Systems  Most Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, where they are repeatedly exposed to indoor allergens and airborne particles that can lead to respiratory symptoms and conditions.

It has been said that the indoor air quality of an average home is worse than the outside environment!

Improve Indoor Air Quality  According to experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and the American Academy of Allergy,Asthma and Immunology(AAAAI)

 


Mold Mitigation & Abatement Toxic Mold, Sick Building, magazines filthy carpet Duct Cleaning HVAC System to have your HVAC system's  

Damp environments, poorly maintained heating and air-conditioning systems and carpeting...

 ...may contribute to poor indoor air quality.

 



Damp Buildings
common in damp buildings.  Since every home's indoor air is filled with a combination of molds, air pathogens, volatile organic compounds, dust mites; it is impossible to view it as a one size fits all. There are simply too many variables.

 But the one thing they all seem to have in common is Water. drops-of-water-#1

 Wet. Moisture. Damp. Humid.

" If there were just two simple things I could do to really fix a building, it would be to change the relative humidity and any water incursion" said Matthew Snow, CIEC, CMRS, CRMI, RMS, CBST Building Scientist and Executive Vice President of Turtle Clan Environment Testing, Inc. "Seeking out and repairing the source is key. Moisture leads to conditions that are conducive to dust mites and mold, as well as bacteria, yeast and many other living organisms."

Snow pointed to dust mites and mold as particularly worrisome.

Dust Mites And Allergies Dust mite allergy usually Nearly 100000 dust mites live and dust mites (see Look for mold in  A damp building with high humidity may lead to increased levels of dust mites and mold, leading to increased allergic respiratory symptoms, as well as the worsening of Asthma.     

                                       Will my children have asthma?

It is a vicious cycle!

And even if someone is not allergic, molds may produce mycotoxins and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) that smell bad Bad smells! Unpleasant smells

.....and may cause respiratory irritation, and Dermatitis seborrheic dermatitis

Nearly half of all young people with asthma are allergic to dust mites; aproximately 10 percent of the population is allergic to dust mites.

house dust mites

ALWAYS REMEMBER......Mold requires moisture to grow. "Cool drops of Water"

 It takes only 60% relative humidity to have a very significant mold colonization inside your home within 24-48 hours.

maligned) Stachybotrys moldy floor commercial

Indoor Breathing Environment

Although there are many culprits that negatively affect indoor air quality, poorly maintained air-conditioning and carpeting are among the most problematic.

          to have your HVAC system's    that old or dirty carpet is a


A major source of microbial allergens is a poorly maintained heating and air-conditioning( HVAC) system,

According to Snow, up to 30 percent of the air inside a home can come from the attic, parking garage or basement.

One study supported by the EPA found that 75 percent of homes...

Three Car Garage

had carbon monoxide from the garage inside of the home.

It is pretty disgusting to think that we are being entombed in airtight /under ventilated toxic coffins!

 Both New Coffins Together   Thankfully there is a huge interest in greening up construction with sustainable building products and materials

                                  green building consultants by the U.S. Green BuildingThe US Green Building Council

Much like air conditioning systems, carpeting often harbors allergens, including dust mites and molds.

 House Dust Mite Another mite Dust mite  

colony of Stachybotrys .

Organisms and particles that become airborne eventually settle in carpeting turning it into a virtual Petrie dish.

                 old dirty carpet :                 

 In damp environments, carpeting provides an ideal environment for mold growth since the padding is a lovely tasty treat!

Communities and Schools    Many schools who do not follow Healthy Schools practices, shampoo their carpeting right before school starts at the end of summer when it's humid outside.

There couldn't be a more inopportune time!

Making a Healthier Indoor Environment

To improve indoor air quality there are several construction practices that, when done right, can make a significant difference.

Once built, maintenance becomes key. key

 Matthew Snow offers the following advice for home owners' on making their Indoor Environment Healthier:

·  Keep the HVAC system clean. Use an air filter that kills particulates instead of just trapping them.

·  Keep roof drainage at least 6 feet away from foundation

·  Maintain all plumbing and fixtures in good working order. In high humidity areas, wrapping pipes with insulation will prevent excessive water dripping.

·  Have the HVAC system and ductwork inspected and/ or cleaned yearly by an ASHRAE or NADCA Certified Contractor. These should also be wrapped in insulation in high humidity areas.

·  Make cerain there is proper roof ventilation. Gable Louvers & Gable Vents

or roof ridge vents are ideal.Ridge Vent

·  Make certain all kitchen and especially bathroom exhaust ventilation is vented to the outside. NOT the attic!!

·  Do not have any wall- to wall carpeting in any buildings or homes where humidity cannot be controlled!! You are just asking for trouble! If you must, have area rugs that can be removed yearly and taken outside to be cleaned like in the old time days. If you cannot replace carpet, vacuum thoroughly, carefully and methodically so you don't stir dust into the air. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or cyclonic vacuum.

·  Prevent mold and all damp building related contamination at bay by dehumidifying the basement. In unfinished basements, humidity should be kept lower than 50-65% percent. Make sure you do your research before buying an air filtration or dehumidifier since not all are created equally!

·   Have basements checked yearly for Radon.

TURTLE CLAN ENVIRONMENT TESTING INC. is comprised of a team of EXPERTS with over 100 years intellectual capital to bring to our clients.

We are A CERTIFIED 3RD PARTY MOLD TESTING COMPANY WITH OFFICES IN CONNECTICUT and NEW YORK serving the Greater Tri State Area and all of Fairfield County Connecticut, Litchfield County Connecticut, New Haven County Connecticut, Middlesex County Connecticut, Hartford County Connecticut, Westchester County New York , Duchess County New York, Putnam County New York, Orange County New York

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Comments (6)

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh
Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD
A doctor who makes house calls.

This is great info.  I am going to reblog this.  Thanks.

Nov 24, 2009 02:17 PM
Lesley Burton-Dallas
Turtle Clan Global - Stratford, CT
Environmental Consultant

Thanks for your positive feedback Stacey, I really appreciate it coming from you!

I find your posts as interesting and informative.

Come by anytime!!

Nov 24, 2009 10:43 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Lesley Welcome to AR and thanks for stopping by.  This is really a big concern for many.  The good news is that some of this poor ait quality can be reduced like for instant properly maintaining the HVAC  system.

Nov 28, 2009 06:19 AM
Lesley Burton-Dallas
Turtle Clan Global - Stratford, CT
Environmental Consultant

Hi Jennifer!

You are exactly correct, maintaining HVAC sysyems is an easy fix! As is duct cleaning, clearing out gutters...

As soon as you start thinking "WET" then you know the probable source for much of what is wrong environmentally.

Come by any time, and thanks for your comment!

Lesley

Nov 28, 2009 10:42 PM
Charles Perkins
Charles G. Perkins, CPA - Burien, WA

Perhaps this is the reason for some of the allergies people have. Thanks for explaining some of the factors surrounding indoor air quality.

Dec 02, 2009 06:20 PM
Lesley Burton-Dallas
Turtle Clan Global - Stratford, CT
Environmental Consultant

Charles-

Absolutely! It's definitely something that should be examined if someone you love is suffering...look at it as a process of elimination

Dec 02, 2009 11:44 PM