INDOOR AIR QUALITY COMPANY SERVICING DE, PA, & MD

Indoor Air Quality services from Hillside for your air conditioning and heating system can create a healthier environment for you and your family.

Outdoor pollution is an unavoidable problem. However, most people are unaware of indoor pollution problems inside their homes. Although we don’t have control over outdoor pollution, we certainly can manage indoor pollution.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), inside air quality is up to five times more polluted than the outside air of the average home. Nearly every home (96%) had at least one of the following indoor air quality problems: mold; mildew; bacteria; pollen; and dust.

Bad air can trigger coughing, chest tightness, sore throat, watery or itchy eyes, shortness of breath, and even a full-blown asthma attack. “If you live in a home with chronically poor air quality, you can experience frequent headaches, long-lasting colds, and bronchitis as well as chronic asthma,” says E. Neil Schachter, MD, the medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Allergens can decrease your family’s comfort, along with serious health issues. Protect yourself and your family by improving your indoor air quality. Filter or neutralize particulates found in indoor air. Air cleaners installed just ahead of the heating and cooling equipment remove a portion of airborne pollutants each time air is pulled into the return air ducts.

Indoor Air Quality Services from Hillside

Our technicians are highly knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced in all HVAC and indoor installations and repairs. We also adhere to a strict code of ethics, which includes providing high-level services, treating every client with respect, and offering honest pricing. If you hire our team of professionals, you can rest assured that our team will help your family breathe cleaner and healthier air—guaranteed. We can create a healthier environment for you and your family by filtering the air, controlling humidity, and cycling fresh outdoor air into the home, reducing allergies, preventing asthma, and increasing your peace of mind.

Contact our indoor air quality experts today to schedule an appointment at 302-738-4144  0r  410-398-2146!

PUBLIC HEALTH: YOU ASKED…

IS MY AIR KILLING ME?

Research suggests that “If you have a badly maintained or badly designed AC system, whether it’s in your home or office, it can become contaminated and potentially harmful,” says Dr. Mark Mendell, an epidemiologist with the California Department of Public Health.

Read Dr. Mendell’s Study

Read the full research article from Time here

Contact our indoor air quality experts today to schedule an appointment at 302-738-4144  0r  410-398-2146!

DIY Improvements for Indoor Air Quality

Reduce indoor allergens that can trigger respiratory problems and other issues. Improving indoor air quality can help you avoid asthma flare-ups and allergy symptoms and keep you breathing easily through the colder months.

According to Harvard Women’s Health Watch, winter is especially dangerous because we hunker down and seal up our homes tight. For people who are sensitive to indoor allergens or have respiratory problems, this can exacerbate problems. The indoor air can become stale and unhealthy. Your heating system can increase the amount of allergy-inducing dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores circulating through your house. Be aware of some of the allergies and respiratory triggers lurking in your surroundings.

“Most of the things that cause problems are odorless,” says Dr. Nicholas BuSaba, associate professor of otolaryngology at Harvard -Medical School. “So, in many cases, there’s nothing to alert you to the problem.” That is, there’s nothing other than the symptoms these allergens can trigger — such as respiratory problems (including asthma flare-ups), fatigue and sleepiness, or even digestive issues.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Air quality in your home tends to worsen in the winter months because there is often no fresh air flow from the outside, meaning allergens stay trapped inside. Reduce the number — and your exposure to indoor allergens— by making simple changes. Here are some strategies to improve air quality inside your home and hopefully improve your allergy symptoms.

A Clean House Improves IAQ

A clean house may be healthier because good indoor hygiene can significantly reduce dust and animal dander, says Dr. BuSaba. Your cleaning efforts should focus on strategies to reduce the accumulation of pet dander, mold, and dust lurking in your home. Focus on the following:

• Vacuuming the carpets and area rugs at least once or twice a week with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. Opting for hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting may also reduce allergens in the home.
• Regularly cleaning bedding, drapes, and other items that tend to attract allergens—particularly if you have pets. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends washing in water at least 130° F. Also consider using dust mite–proof covers on pillows, as well as mattresses and box springs, whenever possible.
• Clearing clutter because it traps and holds dust that can trigger a reaction.
• Change Air filters. If you have a forced-air heating system, be sure to change the filters regularly, says Dr. BuSaba.
• Have Ducts Cleaned by a professional HVAC company to remove trapped dust.
• Invest in an air purifier. If you’re allergic to indoor allergens and can’t control the source of the problem — for example, you’re unwilling to give up your family pet — it may help to use an air purifier, says Dr. BuSaba.
• Use a dehumidifier in damp areas, such as a basement, to help prevent mold growth. Ensure that bathrooms, another potential source of mold, are well-ventilated, and scrub off any visible mold that collects in the shower, fixtures, or walls.
• Let the fresh air in. Even in the cold months, open windows from time to time to allow fresh air to move into the house. Also, move potential air contaminants out by using fans in the kitchen to remove cooking fumes.

Improving Indoor Air Quality Really Works

“The good news is that this stuff is proven to work,” Schachter says. “By increasing ventilation and avoiding irritating substances, you will lower levels of known irritants. Some symptoms, such as headache and sore throat, will go away quickly, while others — such as asthma-like wheezing — can take a while to disappear as the airways become less reactive.”

Contact our indoor air quality experts today to schedule an appointment at 302-738-4144  0r  410-398-2146!

Upgrade Your Heating and Cooling System; Upgrade Your Health

Upgrading to  a new heat pump, heating system, and or air conditioning system can impact your health and happiness in many ways, including:

• Efficiency Upgrade: A new heating and cooling system provide you complete control over your home’s temperature and humidity. Be comfortable from summer to summer while using up to 50% less energy than your older unit.
• Energy Savings: A new high-efficiency heating and cooling system that has been properly measured and installed can save up to 20% on your energy bills.
• Comfort Upgrade: A new heating and cooling system will properly manage your home’s heat and moisture levels for a more comfortable environment.
• Air Quality Upgrade: A new heating and cooling system will reduce pollen, dust, mold, bacteria, and other pollutants.
• Healthier Living: A new heating and cooling system may reduce health effects that older units may cause, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. It has been shown that pollutants can cause diseases that show up much later, such as respiratory diseases.
• Reduced Noise: A new heating and cooling system will operate significantly quieter than your older unit.
• Increased Home Value: Recent studies concluded that Energy Star homes sell almost three months faster than conventional homes at higher sales and per-square-foot prices.

Contact our indoor air quality experts today to schedule an appointment at 302-738-4144  0r  410-398-2146!