Indoor Air Pollution Can Be Worse Than Outside

DAYTON, OH - As spring creeps up on the Miami Valley, people will start their seasonal cleaning routines. Airing out the house, painting, cleaning carpets and flipping the mattress may all be in the near future of Greene County residents. But even with all of that, there is one area in which many people fail to

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air is 70% more polluted than the air outside. Much of the indoor pollution is attributed to bacteria and mold growing in the air handling systems of homes and business.

Allergies, asthma, and other illnesses can be aggravated by microbe-laden air circulated through a building's duct system. One of the best ways to reduce indoor pollution is cleaning the air handling system.

Larry Phillips, owner of Ductz of Southwest Miami Valley, is a professional residential and commercial duct cleaning specialist. A 30-year veteran of the health care industry, Phillips chose a second career that offered him the opportunity to continue improving the health of the community.

"A thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the air ducts can minimize pollution-causing agents lurking in the air system," Phillips said. "Cleaning the system at a seasonal change, such as when you are switching over from heat to air conditioning, is the ideal time." He also cautions consumers to make sure the cleaning company is qualified to do the job properly.

"It should take 4 to 5 hours to clean an average-sized home's duct system," said Phillips. "The technicians should be well trained and follow the guidelines of the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA)." The NADCA is the national organization that sets the standard for air system cleaning.

If done properly, the cleaning should not have to be done annually, but instead only every few years. Air duct sanitization and ultraviolet germicidal disinfection equipment along with the introduction of a high efficiency filtration system can maintain the air quality once the cleaning has been completed. "Furnace filters should be inspected and changed regularly," added Phillips.

Clothes dryer vents are also a contributor to bad air and should be cleaned regularly. Lint that escapes the trap inside the dryer accumulates inside the vent tube creating a fire hazard and limiting the efficiency of the appliance. Here, safety is the primary concern. Annually, an estimated 15,500 fires, 10 deaths and 310 injuries are associated with the lint in clothes dryers.

Newly-built homes may also need the air system cleaned before the space is occupied by the new owners. In new homes duct work, filters and vents can be layered with dirt, sawdust, and drywall dust from the construction process.

For those interested in going 'green,' cleaning air ducts is also good for the environment. Regular maintenance of the air circulation system improves the efficiency of air conditioning and heating equipment which helps to save energy.

To learn more visit the indoor air quality page of the Environmental Protection Agency website at www.epa.gov/iaq. For more information on duct cleaning and sanitation, contact Larry Phillips at Ductz of Southwest Miami Valley by calling (937) 399-8500.