Home Is Where the Health Is - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Testing Your Indoor Air

With all the talk of pollution in the air, it’s easy to think being indoors is safer than being outdoors. However, indoor air is usually two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.

An average 6-room house can accumulate 40 pounds of dust each yer, while about 30 percent of new home and offices have such poor air quality that it can negatively affect your health.

Without realizing it, you could be breathing carbon monoxide, radon, tobacco smoke, pesticides, and formaldehyde.

Rest easy, as there are many simple solutions you can tackle to get your indoor air much cleaner.

Start by having your indoor air tested by a professional. This will let you know what areas of your home, or even your office, are most affected and where you should apply some solutions.

Some quick solutions to improving your indoor air quality include:

• Open the windows and doors when possible
• Use eco-friendly cleaners in the home
• Vaccuum and clean the carpets and rugs regularly
• Change your air filter to a HEPA and change it often
• Use low or no-Voc paint
• Remove and prevent mold in the home
• Clean dryer vents
• Have air ducts cleaned

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Beat the Heat without A/C

 Many of us look for ways to avoid turning on the A/C when the weather heats up in order to save money. For those of us without air conditioning, it’s especially vital to find techniques to stay cool during the hotter months. Whichever category you fall into, try using some of these A/C-free methods to cool off at home this summer.

Use fans. Ceiling and box fans generate a breeze that helps you feel cooler, and used in combination with open windows/doors, fans also help push the hot air out of your house. If it’s cooler outside than it is inside, use a box fan and open windows to get a nice cross-breeze going.

Be water-wise. Lingering in a cool shower might feel nice on a hot day, though it’s not really the most efficient way to stay cool. Nevertheless, there are other innovative ways you can use water to cool off on a hot day. Soak your feet in buckets of cold water, or take a cool bath. Use wet bandanas and towels on the head, neck and shoulders. Having fans blowing on wet skin will help you feel even cooler.

Have a virgin cocktail. It’s fun to have summery drinks like mojitos when the weather warms up, but alcohol is not the best way to beat the heat. In fact, alcohol can cause dangerous dehydration if consumed in hot weather. That said, it’s important to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids when it’s hot. Enjoy a virgin-style version of your favorite cocktail, or drink water, juice, lemonade, etc.

Shut off heat sources. Electronics, lights and appliances all generate heat, so turn them off when the weather is hot. Do chores involving heat-generating appliances, such as vacuuming, at night when the weather cools off. You especially don’t want to use your stove on a hot day – eat fresh foods or use the microwave instead.

Stay downstairs. Hot air rises. So if you have a two-story house, the second story probably gets quite a bit hotter than the downstairs part of the house on hot summer days.  

Eat a salad. Eating heavy, fatty, and protein-rich foods actually warms the body by increasing metabolic heat. Stay cooler by eating lighter foods such as salads. A salad is also a good summertime food because it can be served cold and doesn’t require the heat-generating stove to prepare.

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

(Photo via barockschloss)

Prevent the Quiet Killer: Carbon Monoxide

"Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is extremely poisonous and can kill within minutes. In the US each year, nearly 500 die while as many as 20,000 visit emergency rooms for exposure primarily from poorly-maintained heating systems or gas stoves and gas-powered generators used for heat or power during storms."-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

Call (513) 333-HELP to find out more about how to protect your home from indoor airborne contaminates OR visit www.333HELP.com for information on Healthy Home Solutions: Air & Water and ‘Indoor Air Quality’.

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Can You Recognize the Most Harmful Indoor Air Pollutant?

Poor indoor air quality is a health hazard that many of us don’t place as much emphasis on as we should.  While outdoor air pollutants like smog and exhaust are usually what we think of in association with the term “air pollution,” the reality is that our homes can also harbor toxic air pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, mold spores and more.

Indoor air pollutants can be especially harmful if you or someone in your family has a breathing condition such as asthma, is an infant or a young child, or is a senior citizen. If your family falls into any of these categories, or if you have reason to think the air in your home is not as healthy as it could be, contact Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling to have your indoor air assessed and treated.

Do you know which household air pollutant is the most toxic to your family’s health? Take our poll below to test your home air safety knowledge.

 

 

POLL: Which of these air contaminants do you think is the most dangerous?

Dust

Household cleaners

Smoke

Pet dander

Pesticides

 

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Why HEPA is Better

There are all kinds of allergens and dust particles floating around in our homes. While the standard air filter in your furnace and air conditioning system might remove some of them, using a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter will remove even more of these unwanted particles.

Most disposable, fiberglass filters are designed to remove the largest particles from the air, mainly to protect the furnace equipment. These filters might only get 10-40 percent of what’s floating in the air around you. A HEPA filter can remove up to 99 percent of these pesky airborne particles.

You can install a HEPA filter in your heating and cooling unit, or you can purchase portable filter units (an air purifier) for individual rooms.

If you go shopping for a HEPA filter, make sure that’s the kind you actually buy. There are filters that advertise themselves as HEPA-type or “high efficiency,” and don’t work as well as a true HEPA filter.

Other ways to avoid indoor air pollution include, removing old paint and using low-VOC or no-VOC paint, clean your carpets and rugs often, if you install new carpet, go with a non-toxic option, use household cleaners that are nontoxic, avoid purchasing or using any products made of pressed wood as they can contain formaldehyde, make sure your stove is properly ventilated to the outdoors, and finally, open a few windows when you can to get some circulation.

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

(Photo via Flickr)

Prevent Mold Easily

If you live in a particularly humid climate, or the air in your home seems to hold more moisture than necessary, there is a simple solution: a dehumidifier.

Believe it or not, dehumidifiers are great in fighting mold because moisture creates a great home for mold and dehumidifiers rid the air of said moisture. However, keep in mind that dehumidifiers are preventative, so if you already have a problem with mold, you must get rid of it before a dehumidifier can help.

Common homes for mold include basements, bathrooms, refrigerators, attics, kitchens, and anywhere that has excess moisture. Even common houseplants can grow mold. Take a look and try to identify the type of mold, if any, you’re dealing with. Most types of mold won’t cause much harm, but if it’s black mold, it needs to be removed by a professional and fast, as it can cause major health problems.

After the mold is cleaned away, get a dehumidifier in the area to prevent any future mold. Higher-end dehumidifiers can be as much as $200, however it’s an important unit for your home and your health; the money is worth it. After all, purchasing a machine that will last a long time and prevent mold in your home is a quality investment.

Once you add a dehumidifier to your home, you’ll notice a difference in the air and you can breathe easier.

 

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

How to Choose a Humidifier

While most people complain about the high amounts of humidity in the outdoor air, the right amount of moisture in the indoor air is important for our health. Low humidity is known to dry out the mucous membranes, making it easier for you to get a cold. It can also dry out your eyes, chap your lips, dry out your throat, and even make your skin itchy.

A humidifier can solve these annoying problems.

When you start shopping for a humidifier, there are a few things to keep in mind:

 

• Easy maintenance. A humidifier that’s not clean is a perfect place for bacteria to breed, as well as mold. This won’t do your health any good. If keeping a humidifier clean seems like an impossible chore, make sure you purchase one that promises easy-care.

• Easy-to-use controls and hydrostat. The hydrostat controls the amount of humidity, which is extremely important because too much moisture can breed bacteria, or make health problems worse.

• Energy savings. Models that use “steam” or “warm mist” often use more energy than ultrasonic, impeller, or evaporative types because they involve heating water. Out of all the models, the in-duct is usually the best at energy saving.

• The right size. Think about the area in your home you want to humidify. If the room or area has high ceilings, you’ll want to take that into consideration, too.

 

Following these tips will make buying the right humidifier for your home as easy as possible.

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Home is Where the Health Is is written & published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

 

(Photo By: philliecasablanca)

Cut Indoor Air Pollution for a Healthier Home

When you think of air pollution, smog and other forms of outdoor air pollution is probably what comes to mind. However, reducing indoor air pollutants, such as smoke and cleaning chemicals, is just as important for your health than avoiding pollutants from outside – if not more so.  Keep in mind the following tips to create a healthier indoor environment at home.

Dust frequently -- Vanquish the dust mites hiding in your home’s nooks, crannies, rugs, carpets and other surfaces. Breathing dust can cause injury to the lungs. Make sure dust doesn’t build up in your home by dusting at least once weekly.

Leave your shoes at the door – Not wearing your shoes inside will help you avoid tracking in pollutants, such as allergens, from outside. This is especially important if your home is carpeted and/or you have allergies.

Green your cleaning cabinet – Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your home as these can harm your health. Plus, natural, biodegradable cleaners generally work just as well as the toxic stuff. You can even use common household items like vinegar for many types of home cleaning.

Cut out EMFs – There is some evidence that EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) from electronics can cause damage to your health. Reduce your EMF exposure at home by turning off and unplugging electronics when you’re not using them.

Purify your air – Indoor air contaminants such as toxic chemicals and mold can be made worse by improper ventilation in areas like your bathroom or laundry room. For moisture-rich areas, consider getting a dehumidifier. In general, plants are also good air scrubbers. You may also want to consider getting your home air quality tested to determine if you need an air purification system.

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Home is Where the Health Is is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

 

(Photo By ThomChandler)

Why You Should Strip Your Carpets

Carpet often makes the rooms in our home look nice, it feels good under our feet, and it is fairly easy to care for. However, carpet is the ideal home for dust mites, dirt, mold, and even pesticide residue that are brought indoors from our shoes.

Volatile organic chemicals (sometimes called VOCs) that get into the carpet can evaporate into the air we breathe. VOCs can also be found in common household cleaners, pesticides, paints, pressed woods, and sealants. Although they might evaporate into the air, they will eventually settle back into the carpet, creating a vicious cycle.

While a regular routine of vacuuming carpet does rid it of most dust and surface dirt, but there are still problems below the surface. Steaming or shampooing the carpet is a solution that will get a deeper clean, but it won’t solve the problem forever.

The best solution is to get rid of the carpet altogether. This is the only surefire way to remove your home of the dust mites, mold, and dirt. A hard flooring, such as tile or wood, would be much easier to clean.

Getting rid of all the carpet in your home might seem dramatic, but other flooring options can look just as nice, and you can even decorate them with throw rugs, which can be thoroughly washed.

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Home is Where the Health Is is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Pesticides and Indoor Air Pollution

Did you know that pesticides -- including those used around the house and those tracked inside from our shoes -- are a major source of indoor air pollution? In the past year, approximately 75 percent of American households used at least one type of pesticide indoors (such as bug spray or pet flea treatments). And overall, 80 percent of exposure happens in our homes.

The high portion of pesticide exposure occurring at home suggests that pesticide-contaminated particles tracked in from outside and household pesticides used inside the home to control microbes, fungi, insects and rodents represent major sources of our overall pesticide exposure.

It’s important that we reduce our exposure to pesticides in order to avoid potential health risks. Use these tips from the EPA to minimize your family’s indoor pesticide exposure.

• Use non-chemical pest control methods when possible.
• Keep indoor areas clean and dry to reduce pests and mold.
• Use pesticides only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Mix or dilute pesticides outdoors.
• Do not store pesticides indoors.
• Dispose of pesticides safely.
• If using pesticides indoors, make sure the area is well-ventilated.
• Take pets outdoors when applying flea/tick treatments.
• If using a pest control company, select the company carefully.
• Remove shoes before stepping inside the living area.

Keep coming back to this blog for more tips on how to make your home healthier, and contact Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling to find out how your family might benefit from our healthy home solutions for air and water.

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Home is Where the Health Is is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling