What Are The World Health Organization Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality?

June 12, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that addresses public health on a global scale. Among the many issues it monitors, indoor air pollution has been identified as a major public health concern in countries around the world—including in developed nations. Surprisingly, indoor air can often be more polluted than outdoor air. Because it is more concentrated, indoor air pollution poses serious health risks in homes, workplaces, daycare centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and other enclosed environments. To help residents and organizations manage this issue, the WHO has developed a comprehensive set of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Guidelines, presented across four major publications. These guidelines are based on decades of scientific research and are updated as new evidence emerges. The Four Core WHO IAQ Guidelines 1. Air Quality Guidelines for Particulate Matter, Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide First published: 1987 Updated: 2005 (with periodic updates) This foundational guideline focuses on the four most common indoor pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) Ozone (O₃) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂) These substances are either introduced directly through indoor activities (like cooking or heating) or enter from outside sources (like vehicle emissions). The WHO sets 24-hour...

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The Best Air Purifiers For Germs

April 15, 2020

The same thing happens every time someone gets a cold or the flu in your household. You do everything you can to avoid catching what they have. Have you ever considered how the air quality in your home can help prevent you from getting sick? Your HVAC system is an important line of defense as it circulates air through your home, hopefully removing bacteria, viruses, and other germs in the process. When is the last time you thought about your air purifier? If you are like most people, you probably only think about your air quality while you are replacing or cleaning your air filters. However, a new air purifier can actually improve the health of you and your family in your house. The following are some of the best air purifiers available today when it comes to removing unwanted germs and microorganisms from your air. Medify MA-14 This device features medical-grade purification thanks to the H13 true HEPA filter installed in it. This filter goes above and beyond the basic guidelines of filtration to remove 99.7% of the particulate from the air where it is working. This means on top of viruses and germs, the filter can help with...

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11 Tips For Better Indoor Air Quality

March 19, 2020

Most people spend a disproportionate amount of time inside a building. While the outdoor air quality gets a lot of attention, what we breathe inside is often neglected. Considering how much time people spend breathing inside, the quality of that air should be of utmost importance. Consider these 11 simple tips for improving your indoor air quality: 1. Improve Your Ventilation One of the most important and easiest things to do is improve ventilation. Whether that is opening windows or turning on ventilation fans, moving old air out and drawing in fresh new air is important. This helps improve the balance of gases in the air while reducing the buildup of toxins and allergens inside. Running ventilation fans in the kitchen and bathroom is important. This cuts back on allergens in the air and helps keep humidity under control, reducing mold and mildew. 2. Change Your Filters Everyone knows that you are supposed to change your furnace filters. Doing so helps maintain the right volume of air coming from your circulation fan and reduces the strain on your furnace and air conditioner. However, regardless of how long they are supposed to last, check your filters regularly. When they get clogged,...

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How To Improve Indoor Air Quality Naturally

February 5, 2020

There are several things you can do to naturally improve the air quality in your home in Thousand Oaks. Many of these cost little or nothing to accomplish. These tips will help your indoor environment’s air quality and provide relief to those with allergies. Keep It Clean Clean houses will have fewer pollutants floating around in the air. You should vacuum carpets once or twice a week using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Hard surfaces should be mopped or wiped to remove dust and dirt. If you own or buy a microfiber mop, all you’ll need is plain water to clean these surfaces. You should put a floor mat outside every exterior door. This will reduce the number of chemicals and pollutants people track inside. If you buy a large mat, people can leave their shoes on it when entering your home. Ventilate You need good airflow to have good indoor air quality. Stagnant air should be replaced with fresh air. Leave your windows and doors open when you can. If you live in a crowded city, you may need to time this carefully so you’re not letting in dirty air. Keep Your Filters Clean You should regularly...

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What Are the Most Important Rooms to Have an Air Purifier in?

January 26, 2020

An air purifier’s ability to remove moisture and airborne pollutants ensure that your home is filled with clean, breathable air. If you want to get the most use out of your indoor air purifier, you need to think carefully about where to install it. Certain rooms are more prone to having air quality issues, so they can benefit the most from regular filtration. Bathrooms Bathrooms need an air purifier because these are damp rooms where mold and mildew can grow. When these particles become airborne, they can make you sick or result in breathing problems. Having an air purifier in this area can make a huge difference in your overall air quality. Bedrooms Bedrooms tend to be filled with soft fabrics that trap dust, skin cells, hair and more. If you want to wake up feeling refreshed instead of feeling stuffy and groggy, try an air purifier in this important room. Kitchens often gets Burbank customers asking about our air quality services for the kitchen because this area is prone to many potential problems. Cooking creates a variety of particles that can smell strange, and the high-moisture environment can lead to mold or mildew. Since your purifier will be very...

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Symptoms of a Dirty Air Conditioner Coil

January 15, 2020

Keeping your HVAC system clean goes a long way toward maintaining optimal efficiency and performance. While you may be aware of how to clean and replace your air filter, there is still the evaporator coil to think about. The evaporator coil should not go overlooked. Our technicians at [company name] take pride in educating our customers on how to keep their HVAC systems performing at maximum efficiency. Our team is available to assist you with: Air filter cleaning and replacement Evaporator coil cleaning Efficiency testing Routine maintenance The following signs may indicate a dirty coil. If you observe any of these symptoms, have your evaporator coil cleaned promptly. Your System No Longer Cools Your Home One of the most immediate signs you are likely to notice if you have a dirty coil is difficulty cooling your home. When dirt, dust, and debris cover evaporator coils, the coils are unable to draw heat from the air that passes through the HVAC system. As a result, you may notice that when you run your system, air is circulating through your home without being adequately cooled. Your System Is Working Harder A dirty coil causes your HVAC system to work harder to move...

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Fall Indoor Air Quality Concerns & How to Prevent Them

October 30, 2019

Spring might be a harsh allergy season, but fall can be equally difficult for allergy sufferers. Even indoors, we can experience allergy symptoms, so you want to keep the indoor air quality at a healthy level during the fall season. Here are a few things to do to counter those fall air quality concerns. Improve Your Indoor Air Quality There are several things that you can do to improve indoor air quality during the fall. For starters, you can open the windows to let out that stale air and allow some fresh breezes into your home. However, this can open your home to outside pollen, and it might not be a suitable solution for those with allergies. If you need to test the air quality of your Burbank home, our technicians will make sure that you are breathing high-quality air. Use a HEPA Filter on Your Vacuum You can keep pollutants, pet dander, mold, and dust mites under control with the help of a HEPA filter. These filters will trap the harmful particles in the filters, helping you to breathe a little easier this fall. Change Your Heating Air Filter It is important to change your air filter throughout the...

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How to Maintain Superior Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

May 22, 2019

Creating and maintaining excellent indoor air quality doesn’t have to be expensive. With a few smart habits and simple adjustments to your home and daily routine, you can drastically improve the air your family breathes—without spending a fortune. Here are several low-cost, high-impact tips to help you get started: 1. Be Mindful of What You Introduce Into the Air Many household products—cleaners, air fresheners, and even some personal care items—release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants into the air. Even when they smell pleasant, these compounds can contribute to poor indoor air quality and cause health issues over time. What you can do: 2. Ensure Proper Ventilation and Humidity Control Modern homes are built to be energy efficient, which often means they’re sealed tightly—but without proper ventilation, pollutants can accumulate quickly. Simple steps for better airflow: Humidity matters too: Aim to keep indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. Use humidifiers or dehumidifiers as needed to maintain balance. 3. Use Your HVAC System to Bring in Fresh Air Your HVAC system isn’t just for heating and cooling—it can also help improve indoor air quality when configured properly. Tips to enhance HVAC effectiveness: Final Thoughts Small actions—like switching to non-toxic cleaners,...

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10 Impressive Benefits of Air Filtration

March 16, 2019

Maintaining the comfort of your home doesn’t just mean keeping the temperature at the right level. Anyone who enters or lives in your home, including your pets, can be affected by issues with indoor air quality. In fact, the EPA reports that indoor air is two to three times more polluted than outdoor air. So, if you have yet to explore your options with indoor air improvements, here are ten impressive benefits of air filtration to consider. 1. Healthier and Cleaner Air An air filtration system can result in healthier and cleaner indoor environments for homeowners in Burbank, Thousand Oaks, and Beverly Hills. Air cleaners and purifiers with germicidal capabilities, in particular, can remove many of the pathogens that contribute to the common cold, certain forms of the flu, and various respiratory ailments. 2. Better Seasonal Allergy Control If you or someone in your household is affected by seasonal allergies, you may not be any better indoors than you are outdoors if you’re not breathing properly filtered air. An air cleaner or purifier can minimize or eliminate many common allergens or allergy triggers. 3. Fewer Lingering Odors From strong cooking odors to pet smells and anything that can fall in...

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How to Keep the Air Clean in Your Home

March 6, 2019

Indoor air pollution can be caused by a number of factors, including the presence of animals or old carpeting. Old ductwork or improperly maintained HVAC equipment could also play a role in creating indoor air pollution. Let’s take a look at how you can minimize or eliminate potential danger to your health. Get an Indoor Air Quality Assessment To determine what may be causing issues with your home’s air quality, it can be a good idea to have an indoor air quality assessment performed. The professionals from in Burbank can determine what types of particles are in the air and why they are there. Afterward, they can make recommendations as to how to get rid of the pollutants. This could be done by installing a humidifier or dehumidifier. We can also repair any HVAC components that could be creating conditions ripe for mold or other types of mildew to form and thrive. Take Steps to Minimize Pet Hair and Dander Pet hair and dander can easily make their way to multiple rooms in a home. Therefore, it is a good idea to regularly brush your animals to keep shedding to a minimum. It is also a good idea to sweep...

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