Cleaning our home is an integral part of our day to day life. Depending on the extent and vastness of cleaning, it can be divided into various categories i.e. yearly, monthly, weekly or daily. Where as daily cleaning might involve general vacuum and dusting other types of cleaning are time and effort consuming. Irrespective of the category, the cleaning products are more or less same. Cleaning itself is a cumbersome job without having to worry about the type of cleansers being used. Earlier the motive was to make our house look spotless and smell fresh, without divulging in the ecological aftermaths of cleaning products ingredients. However off late with environmental imbalance threatening us, individuals have started taking initiative for green cleaning. Ordinary cleaning products contains many chemicals and toxic substances like surfactants, phosphates etc, which are harmful for our environment. We should be well informed about the green cleaning products so that the above situation is avoided.
While there is no simple cure-all in finding a solution to Sick Building Syndrome, perhaps the most important step might be recognizing that it is indeed a problem. Company executives and building owners are often in denial and refuse to aknowledge it as a problem, often for financial reasons.
A good second step might consist of a combination of education and communication in regards to an air quality management program. When everyone from building owners, company executives, maintenance personnel and the rest of the staff fully understand the importance of indoor air quality a solution is more likely to be found.
In addition to recognizing the problem and getting everyone involved, combinations of the following measures may also prove helpful:
While air duct cleaning alone rarely cures Sick Building Syndrome it does play an important role in finding the solution. Sick Building Syndrome is usually associated with dirty or stagnant air. This dirty air may come from a variety of sources such as outdoor contaminents which have found there way inside, and pollution created within the confines of the building from manufacturing or even general cleaning and maintenance procedures. Either way, this dirty air is moved in and out of the building through a maze of air ducts, and various other HVAC components.
While the exact cause of Sick Building Syndrome remains unclear, the following elements have been noted as contributing factors to sick building syndrome. These factors may act in conjunction with, or perhaps supplement other complaints such as temperature, humidity, or lighting.
Outdoor air sources:
Outdoor air which enters a building may also be a source of indoor air pollution. Pollutants from vehicle exhausts, plumbing vents, and kitchen and bathroom exhaust vents may enter the building through air intake vents, windows, and other openings. Combustion by-products can also enter a building from a nearby chimney or automotive garage.
Sick Building Syndrome is a condition in which the occupants of a building experience negative health effects which seem to be linked to the amount of time spent in the building. While no particular illness or cause can be identified, the complaints may be localized in a specific area, or may be widespread throughout the entirebuilding.
Problems frequently, result when a building is used or maintained in a manner other than its original design. Sometimes poor building design or occupant activities result in indoor air problems.
Sick Building Syndrome may also increase absenteeism and reduce worker productivity.
What Are some of the Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome?
The quality of air you breathe defines the health and well being of you and your family. According to a survey by an environmental agency the air inside home is much more prone to the pollution as compared to outer environment. This sounds weird but it is a proven fact. Most people are happy as long as their home is neat and clean and the three basic systems are working well; the heating system, the ventilation system and air conditioning system. But the fact is, your homes heating and cooling systems is the very places which may be responsible for contaminating the air you take in while you are at home.
You have just moved into your new home and you would like to have your air ducts cleaned. You make a few calls and quickly discover there are several different techniques. Each company telling you their way is the only way to clean air ducts. You also discover that each company has it’s own unique way of marketing their service. It can very quickly get very confusing.
First, because it isn’t practical to use water, there are really only 3 ways to clean your duct work:
- Replace all your existing ductwork. (not very practical, and very expensive)
How can you be sure you have hired the right air duct cleaning contractor? With primarily three different methods used to clean the air ducts in your home and prices ranging from $59 to $800, you want to be well informed before you start contacting air duct cleaning companies.
So why the huge disparity in prices? The answer lies somewhere between homeowner preferences and business marketing practices. For example, someone who is a very clean person that has just purchased an old home from a party that had several pets, may not care about the price. On the other hand, someone that just wants to get their ductwork cleaned because their neighbor just had it done, might only want to pay a minimal amount. Residential air duct cleaning companies know this and will base their marketing around it.
Perhaps you have talked to someone that has said ‘I’d never get my air ducts cleaned’ or my furnace repairman said it is not necessary to get your duct work cleaned”, and now you are wondering if it really is indeed necessary. You may be asking yourself ‘have I been throwing away money on something I really do not need?’ Yet, you have seen the dirt. You are aware that dirt and debris enters the duct work as well as any other place in your home. So, the question remains, why do a few people think this way?
You might have been hearing about the importance of cleaning air ducts on regular basis and must be wondering what this hype is all about. Especially so, when your heating cooling system was properly installed, is working just fine and has been maintained well. The matter becomes worth the hype though, when one considers the longevity of the heating and air conditioning system and more importantly, the health and safety of your dear and near ones.
Air duct cleaning is all about cleaning and maintaining the components of your heating and cooling system. Typical heating and cooling systems are composed of the following:
