Allergies - Getting the Best Air Quality For Your Home and Family

Air Quality at home is very important for you and your family's quality of life. Your home needs to be safe and comfortable and not a place where people get sick. Whether your home is new or old, you can have Air Quality problems associated with chemicals, allergens or mold. We are going to talk about what you can do to help improve your family's quality of life.

It is important to search your home for problems that can cause Asthma and Allergy problems. Let's start the investigation in the following locations:

1. Air Conditioning System-this is one of the first places to check for mold or algae. Remove the filter and look at the coils if you have access to it. Are they clean? If not, call an A/C Contractor to clean the coils and unit. The quality of your filter is the number one cause of mold in Air Conditioning Systems. It should be a high quality pleated filter with a minimum rating of MERV 7. Always check with the A/C Manufacturer to see if the filter you are using can be used in their system. Some high quality pleated filters are too restrictive for the unit, this can cause mold and mechanical problems long term.

2. Do you have carpet? One of the biggest problems we find during our inspections at Safe Homes is contaminated carpet. Carpets hold a host of allergens such as dust mites, dirt and dust particles that are released when you walk over it. We do not recommend carpet because it holds a multitude of allergens that can affect people with Asthma and Allergies.

3. Your bathroom can be another problem location. This is a high humidity area and it can attract mold to grow in this location. If you do not have an exhaust fan to the exterior, this can encourage microbial growth because of high humidity. Always check the back of the toilet for water leaks from the tank, most of the time it starts with a slow drip and get worse as time goes on. Always look inside the Bathroom Cabinet below the sink for any signs of moisture damage on a weekly basis.

4. Kitchens have a ideal environment to encourage microbial growth. Always keep an eye on the area below the Kitchen Sink. Most people have so much cleaning supplies and containers that they totally ignore this area. This is an area where you can have a slow leak which encourages mold to grow. The next location is below the Dishwasher. We find more microbial growth under Kitchen Cabinets as a result of a slow leak from water leak in the pipes under the Dishwasher. This is a common location for microbial growth from moisture. I have personal experience with this one with my own leaking dishwasher.

5. Windows are the next location you hav

e to watch. It is common to see leaks in the corners of the window sills especially after a driving rain. If you have old windows that leak, think about upgrading them to the newer windows. Most of the older windows have problems because the factory seals have deteriorated. During our Safe Homes Environmental Inspections, this is a prime location that we find mold starting to grow. You will see a water stain in the corners which will expand slowly.

In conclusion, it is important to keep an eye on your home for water leaks that can cause mold and allergens. They can cause poor Indoor Air Quality and it impossible for anyone with Asthma or Allergies to live in the house. Make it a point to check the items we talked about every month to help limit microbial growth in your home. Always remember that your family's heath is part of your responsibility of maintaining your home. It is easier to be prepared than you thought. Our motto at Safe Homes is "Be Prepared' for any type of problem which can cause poor Indoor Air Quality.