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The Most Common Types of Indoor Air Pollutants & How to Get Rid of Them

September 12, 2023 by Jose Campos

It’s easy to overlook the quality of the air we’re surrounded by within the boundaries of our Highland, IL home. Unknown to many, these indoor spaces can harbor many pollutants that silently weaken our health and well-being. At Morrison Plumbing, we understand the significance of maintaining ideal indoor air quality. That’s precisely why we’ve taken the initiative to gather insights into the most common indoor air pollutants. We aim to empower you with practical strategies that guarantee the air you inhale is refreshing and pure.

Dust and Allergens

Dust and allergens are at the top of the list of common indoor air pollutants. Dust mites, your furry friend’s dander, and those pesky pollen particles all find their way inside your home, wreaking havoc on your comfort and triggering your allergies, leading to watery eyes and endless sneezing fits, or worse, asthma flare-ups. Tackling this issue starts with cleaning and regular vacuuming, especially in your pets’ spaces. Round up that stubborn dust and dander to visibly cut down allergen levels. You can also introduce air purifiers into the mix; they’re like invisible shields that trap these dust and dander particles, leaving your air refreshingly crisp and pure.

Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew find their ideal environment in damp, poorly ventilated spaces within your home. They thrive in such conditions, creating more issues than one might expect. The presence of mold can lead to respiratory problems and various other health-related worries. If you wish to lessen the risk of mold and mildew growth, it’s essential to monitor humidity levels diligently and promptly address any sneaky leaks that might emerge. Effective ventilation also plays a critical role in steering clear of mold-related problems—specifically, areas like bathrooms and basements, which often suffer from inadequate ventilation. Ensuring proper ventilation in these spaces is key. By following these steps, you can contribute to maintaining a healthier indoor living environment.

Highland, IL resident vacuuming up dirt, dust, and pet hair to minimize indoor air pollutants.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde, an often-overlooked indoor pollutant, is frequently present in our homes. It hides in various sources like building materials, furniture, and even certain fabrics. Shockingly, formaldehyde can harbor flame retardants that have been associated with chronic health issues. Protecting your well-being starts with mindful choices and opting for natural materials whenever feasible. Furthermore, maintaining proper ventilation is crucial, especially in newly constructed or renovated spaces. By prioritizing good airflow, you actively reduce formaldehyde levels, contributing to a healthier living environment for you and your loved ones. Your home should be a safe place, and these steps help ensure it remains free from such hidden threats.

Tobacco Smoke

Exposure to secondhand smoke introduces a complex blend of detrimental chemicals, posing significant health risks for both smokers and non-smokers alike. These harmful smoke particles have the capacity to disperse and linger indefinitely within the surrounding air. Protecting against the hazards of secondhand smoke requires the establishment of an indoor smoke-free policy, promoting the practice of smoking outdoors among smokers, and using air purifiers equipped with effective filters to expel these toxic particles from the environment. By adopting these measures, we can ensure a healthier and safer atmosphere for everyone.

Family sitting on living room couch in their Highland, IL home enjoying clean air due to the air purifier that is placed in their living room.

Carbon Monoxide

One of the most dangerous indoor pollutants is carbon monoxide, a highly toxic gas that poses serious risks to your household. This colorless and odorless gas can become life-threatening when present at elevated levels. If you want to ensure the safety of your home, it’s crucial to place carbon monoxide detectors in proximity to bedrooms and fuel-burning devices. Regular maintenance of these detectors is essential to their effectiveness. By taking these precautions, you can create a secure living environment for your family, guarding against the potential dangers associated with carbon monoxide exposure.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Household items like air fresheners and cleaning products may seem harmless, but they actually harbor substantial levels of volatile organic compounds or VOCs. These compounds deposit hazardous chemicals that can trigger respiratory problems and worsen allergies. When you are looking to counteract the detrimental effects of VOCs, it’s wise to choose products with low VOC content, enhance indoor airflow, and contemplate the use of air purifiers featuring activated carbon filters. By embracing these precautions, you can create a healthier living environment and keep yourself protected against the potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure to VOCs.

Reach Out to Our Experts at Morrison Plumbing

Caring for the air quality within your indoor spaces is a vital aspect of your overall health and well-being. By staying well-versed in the prevalent indoor air pollutants and putting the above-mentioned approaches into practice, you have the power to foster a more wholesome environment for both you and those in your home. At Morrison Plumbing, we take pride in offering a range of products and services designed to enhance the indoor air quality of your Highland, IL, home. When you contact us, we will send our team of experts who are expertly trained and possesses the knowledge necessary to effectively elevate the air quality within your home, ensuring a cleaner and healthier living space.

The Importance of a Dehumidifier for Your Home This Spring

April 11, 2023 by Ali H.

The season of moisture is spring. There is a lot of wetness associated with this time of year, between the melting of winter snow and the arrival of spring rains. Some of that moisture will inevitably find its way into your home. Although this is a possibility in the form of a flooded basement, it is an extreme scenario. More than likely, the air in certain areas of your home will feel cool and clammy. If left unattended, this can lead to more serious issues, not the least of which is the growth of mold, mildew, or fungus. That’s where a dehumidifier comes in. Homeowners need a dehumidifier more than they think, and they often do not realize how much until they turn one on and experience the notable difference. Let Morrison Plumbing step in to advise you on all the benefits of this investment.

Creates a More Pleasant Living Space

A humid environment can become extremely uncomfortable to live in. When a dehumidifier reduces the extra humidity, it can make the air in your home cooler and more comfortable! With all the benefits a dehumidifier can provide to make a healthier home, it can be considered a necessity for you to keep the indoor air balanced and safe!

Removes musty odors
Controls growth of mildew and mold
Reduces condensation
Protects furniture and home electronics from moisture
Protects clothing, curtains, and bedsheets from mold
Reduces dust and restricts growth of dust mites

They are Versatile and Provide Benefits to Every Room

Dehumidifiers are incredibly versatile and will provide you with numerous benefits in any room. It’s up to you to decide where you need it most or if you want to enjoy the improved air quality throughout your whole house. Consult with our experts at Morrison Plumbing and we’ll provide expert advice and dehumidifier services to enhance the comfort of your home.

Finished Basement — A popular hangout is the basement rec room or game room. However, it is also the room most likely to have a musty odor and a clammy feel in the air, which can lead to mold and mildew growth behind baseboards and walls. It’s unpleasant to sit on damp furniture. Removing the humid air from the room will allow you to relax more comfortably.
Kitchen — Humidity is generated in the kitchen by filling the sink with hot water to do the dishes, or running the dishwasher, the refrigerator, and the stove. When visitors come over, the kitchen is a popular gathering place. A dehumidifier will remove all of the moisture from the air, keeping it comfortable and dry.
Bathroom — Exhaust fans do an excellent job of preventing condensation buildup in a bathroom, especially when taking a hot shower. But what if you don’t have a fan in your bathroom? A dehumidifier performs the same function, preventing mirror fogging and mildew growth from condensation on the walls and ceiling.
Living Room — If you have good windows, your living room is probably not a source of humidity. Older windows, on the other hand, will allow humidity into your home. To keep the room comfortable, keep a dehumidifier near the window.
Garage — Whether you use your garage to park your car, as a catch-all for yard equipment, or simply as a general storage space, you should protect what is stored there. A garage, unlike the rest of your house, is not typically insulated from the elements, making it a prime candidate for thick, wet air.

Helps with Water Leakage and Flood Cleanup

Flooding and water leakage are common household problems. Using a dehumidifier to help with cleanup can cut down on the time, hassle, and stress associated with dealing with excess water. A major advantage of a dehumidifier is that it can function similarly to a vacuum cleaner by absorbing excess water and moisture to speed up the drying process! A dehumidifier not only helps with the immediate effects of flooding, but it can also help with the long-term aftereffects by preventing mold and mildew from forming. If you live in an area with a lot of rainfall and/or natural disasters involving water, a dehumidifier will definitely come in handy!

Alleviates Allergy Symptoms

Dust mites, pollen, animal or pet dander, mold, and mildew are common seasonal spring allergy triggers. Mold and mildew thrive in humid environments and can cause sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, congestion, watery eyes, dryness, and itchiness in your eyes, nose, or throat. Using a dehumidifier to reduce humidity in the air can help reduce dust and other allergy triggers in the air. This produces clean indoor air in your home. So, no more sneezing and sniffling due to spring allergies! When you’re ready to start breathing better, contact our team at Morrison Plumbing today.

Reduces Pests and Infestations

Pests may be drawn to your home for a variety of reasons. Excess humidity or moisture, according to Pest Control Services Inc., is one of the most common causes of pest infestations. This is due to the fact that pests and termites draw water from their surroundings in order to survive. You may have noticed that more insects are found in wet areas or damp environments. By chewing through damp wood, insects, termites, and other pests can easily enter your home. Even small amounts of water from the air can assist these pests in surviving for extended periods of time. A dehumidifier can help control pests by removing excess moisture from the air and creating a more balanced environment. Remove pesky pests from your home and send them packing!

Can Lower Energy Costs

Running a dehumidifier in your home can also help you save money on energy! You don’t need to run your air conditioner as frequently because dehumidifiers work to reduce humidity in the air. Furthermore, your cooling equipment does not require more energy to maintain the desired temperature level in your home. Morrison Plumbing’s dehumidifiers are energy efficient, so they use less energy while operating, saving you even more money! A dehumidifier from Morrison Plumbing is an excellent way to save money over time!

When you’re ready to make your home healthier and more comfortable for your family, call Morrison Plumbing at (618) 408-1597 to schedule a consultation and we’ll get the process started for improving the air quality of your home in Belleville, IL. Call today!

How Often Should You Clean Your Home’s Air Ducts?

April 11, 2023 by Ali H.

Every day, the air ducts in your home’s HVAC system circulate an incredible amount of air…and it carries all kinds of debris with it, including dust, dander, hair, spiderwebs, mites, and even microbes and mold spores. How often should you clean your air ducts, given that so much of that debris ends up in the ductwork? Let Morrison Plumbing give you our professional advice on this matter.

How Often to Clean Your Air Ducts

Air ducts do not have to be cleaned on a strictly regular basis. According to the EPA, you should clean your air ducts whenever necessary. Reasons for air duct cleaning include visible mold or dirt in the system, rodents or insects in the ducts, and residents living in the home who struggle with allergies or illnesses.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), a trade group, supports cleaning air ducts as needed. However, the NADCA recommends that homeowners have their air ducts inspected once a year to ensure that they are in good working order.

You can certainly clean your air ducts yourself, but homeowners cannot see beyond the first few feet of ductwork. A video inspection by an air duct cleaning company is required to see all the way into the ductwork, and a professional company will have more advanced tools to provide a more thorough cleaning service. Something to consider when your air ducts need to be cleaned.

*Tip: Even though air ducts do not need to be cleaned on a regular basis, there are no disadvantages to having your ducts cleaned on a regular basis.

When Air Ducts Need to be Cleaned

The following are primary conditions that require your air ducts should be cleaned:

Visible mold growth
Excessive dust inside the air ducts
Rodents and/or insects
Residents suffering from allergies, asthma, or other illnesses

Secondary conditions include:

Smokers in the home
Shedding pets with a lot of hair or dander
Water contamination in the air ducts
Damage to the ducts
Recent renovation, particularly drywall work.

*Tip: Dust in the first few feet of the return air duct does not always indicate that the ducts need to be cleaned professionally. Return ducts are dirtier because they draw room air back into the system. They are cleanable with a vacuum and an extension.

Benefits of Clean Air Ducts

The main advantage of having your home’s air ducts cleaned is that mold growth is eliminated. Even under normal conditions, contaminated air ducts can become a breeding ground for microbe growth. Toxigenic mold, also known as mycotoxins, can be dangerous to residents. Mold spores are distributed throughout the home whenever the HVAC system pushes air through the ductwork.

Mold and mildew are likely to have developed if water entered the ductwork and the moisture was not immediately dried up. As a result, cleaning the ducts after an unexpected event is a good idea. If your home has recently undergone a major renovation, especially drywall work or floor sanding, it’s also a good idea to have the ducts cleaned before turning on the HVAC.

Clean air ducts also mean a cleaner living environment, a drastic reduction of allergens and irritants, the removal of unpleasant odors, and an improvement in airflow and air quality. You will also enjoy an increase in energy efficiency, which means a decrease in your monthly energy bills.

Do It Yourself vs. Professional Air Duct Cleaning

DIY Duct Cleaning

$50-$100
End sections of return & supply ducts cleaned
Debris is moved toward vents
Debris in ductwork partially removed

Professional Duct Cleaning

$450-$1,000
Complete ductwork cleaning
Debris moved toward the HVAC unit
Debris in ductwork completely removed

Only a professional duct cleaning company can perform full system-wide air duct cleaning. Commercial machines are not available to homeowners and cannot be replicated with consumer-grade vacuums.

DIY duct cleaning can clean some ductwork, primarily the ends. A vacuum with an extension can reach the ends of the return and supply ducts by 2 to 4 feet. Registers (grilles or vents) should also be vacuumed.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. It’s up to you to decide what your home needs, but if you want a professional opinion, you can always reach out to our experts at Morrison Plumbing. Contact us today for a consultation!

FAQs

What happens if you don’t clean your air ducts?

Mold spores will continue to grow and be distributed throughout the house with each HVAC cycle if mold is growing in the air ducts. Other non-microbial debris poses less of a health risk.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of duct cleaning?

The benefits of duct cleaning include the removal of all debris from the ductwork system, not just the last few feet that a homeowner can remove with a vacuum. There are no drawbacks to the service other than the cost of duct cleaning.

Why does my house become so dusty and how can I fight it?

Dust accumulates naturally, whether you live in your house or not, but it’s important to combat the dust as often as you can to keep your living space clean. By keeping your home less dusty, you can reduce or eliminate the need for air duct cleaning. Close all windows and doors. Make use of doormats. Vacuum and damp mop floors on a regular basis. Keep your pets clean and groomed. Replace the HVAC filter on a regular basis.

When you want professional duct cleaning or just a professional opinion on the matter, call Morrison Plumbing at (618) 262-0446. We’ll be happy to assist you and improve the quality and comfort of your home in Caseyville, IL.