Are you seeing small feathery dust puffing out from an air duct when you turn your heating ventilation and air conditional (HVAC) system on? Have you found dust or pet hair trapped in a vent? If so, your ducts might be in for a good cleaning.
Dead skin, hair and pet dander latch onto the small particles of dust on air duct surfaces, vents, motors and coils. This creates the perfect environment for bacteria, dust mites and allergens to flourish. While air filters help remove this from the air, they are still trapped in parts of the HVAC system. This is why it’s important to have ducts checked regularly – especially when they “look” dirty.
While a home may temporarily have the aroma of smelly socks, hair spray, after shave or cooking smells (the [normally] harmless odors of everyday life), most houses seem to have an overall signature smell. Some are more pleasant than others.
However, most of us know when we are smelling something that isn’t quite right – especially in an unfamiliar home or returning to our home after a vacation. Some warning signs that may indicate that there may be an indoor air quality problem that should be checked out include:
- strange odors
- poor air movement
- stale/stuffy air
- dirty/faulty central heating or air system
- damaged chimneys/pipes
- strong humidity
- mold and mildew
Exposure to mold can cause health problems in some people. Mold spores are always found in the air we breathe. However, significant mold contamination may cause health problems. Breathing mold can cause allergic and respiratory symptoms.
Unless you live in a fun house at the fair, those springy, spongy floors probably are not intentional and may be a result of a mold and moisture problem. It could very well be the result of rotten wood hiding in your home.
Occasionally, our houses scream for attention when they need repairs. However, rotten wood, from lingering moisture, can easily escape notice, unless you’re specifically looking for it. However, when found, it should be repaired fix it completely – including any moisture problems which may have been the catalyst. Otherwise, you will likely face more significant, expensive repairs down the road.
There are many ways for water to enter and continue to penetrate your home – leak in your water main, appliance leak, faulty waste water pipe or surface drain, rising up through your brickwork through capillary action, etc. The first step is to find the cause. Then, it can be stopped while preventative measures are put in place for the future.
Water can be found in some crawl spaces, especially after 2-3 days of heavy rain. this can be because the earth was never fully addressed, but more often due to poor ventilation and poor ventilation technique. This air from the crawl space can enter the occupied areas of the home through the duct work of your home. To avoid damage to your home and resulting pollutants, including radon, mold, bacteria and allergens, proper moisture control techniques should be put into place.
Water can be found in some basements, especially after 2-3 days of heavy rain. this can be because the earth was never fully addressed, but more often due to poor ventilation and poor ventilation technique. This air from the basement can enter the occupied areas of the home through the duct work of your home. To avoid damage to your home and resulting pollutants, including radon, mold, bacteria and allergens, proper moisture control techniques should be put into place.
If you are seeing any of these telltale signs in your laundry room, take note…
- It’s taking longer than it should to dry your clothes.
- The laundry room feels hotter than it should after drying a load.
- There seems to be extra lint everywhere.
- Clean clothes and dryer sheets smell musty and feel hot, but not dry, coming out of the dryer.
Your dryer exhaust may very well be clogged. This is a significant cause of house fires that could easily be prevented with a good cleaning.
If you are seeing any of these telltale signs in your laundry room, take note…
- It’s taking longer than it should to dry your clothes.
- The laundry room feels hotter than it should after drying a load.
- There seems to be extra lint everywhere.
- Clean clothes and dryer sheets smell musty and feel hot, but not dry, coming out of the dryer.
Your dryer exhaust may very well be clogged. This is a significant cause of house fires that could easily be prevented with a good cleaning.
If you are seeing any of these telltale signs in your laundry room, take note…
- It’s taking longer than it should to dry your clothes.
- The laundry room feels hotter than it should after drying a load.
- There seems to be extra lint everywhere.
- Clean clothes and dryer sheets smell musty and feel hot, but not dry, coming out of the dryer.
Your dryer exhaust may very well be clogged. This is a significant cause of house fires that could easily be prevented with a good cleaning.
If you are seeing any of these telltale signs in your laundry room, take note…
- It’s taking longer than it should to dry your clothes.
- The laundry room feels hotter than it should after drying a load.
- There seems to be extra lint everywhere.
- Clean clothes and dryer sheets smell musty and feel hot, but not dry, coming out of the dryer.
Your dryer exhaust may very well be clogged. This is a significant cause of house fires that could easily be prevented with a good cleaning.
If you are seeing any of these telltale signs in your laundry room, take note…
- It’s taking longer than it should to dry your clothes.
- The laundry room feels hotter than it should after drying a load.
- There seems to be extra lint everywhere.
- Clean clothes and dryer sheets smell musty and feel hot, but not dry, coming out of the dryer.
Your dryer exhaust may very well be clogged. This is a significant cause of house fires that could easily be prevented with a good cleaning.
While a home may temporarily have the aroma of smelly socks, hair spray, after shave or cooking smells (the [normally] harmless odors of everyday life), most houses seem to have an overall signature smell. Some are more pleasant than others.
However, most of us know when we are smelling something that isn’t quite right – especially in an unfamiliar home or returning to our home after a vacation. Some warning signs that may indicate that there may be an indoor air quality problem that should be checked out include:
- strange odors
- poor air movement
- stale/stuffy air
- dirty/faulty central heating or air system
- damaged chimneys/pipes
- strong humidity
- mold and mildew
If you have a mold problem you’ll continually be breathing in airborne spores. Some are toxic.
The spores trigger allergic reactions like sneezing and a runny nose. They can irritate the nose and throat too. Primary symptoms include:
- sneezing and coughing
- nasal congestion
- sore throat and/or eyes
- irritated skin
- sinus issues
- breathing challenges
- dizziness
- headache
- concentration problems
- faintness
- hair loss
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- nausea
If you have a mold problem you’ll continually be breathing in airborne spores. Some are toxic.
The spores trigger allergic reactions like sneezing and a runny nose. They can irritate the nose and throat too. Primary symptoms include:
- sneezing and coughing
- nasal congestion
- sore throat and/or eyes
- irritated skin
- sinus issues
- breathing challenges
- dizziness
- headache
- concentration problems
- faintness
- hair loss
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- nausea
Are you seeing small feathery dust puffing out from an air duct when you turn your heating ventilation and air conditional (HVAC) system on? Have you found dust or pet hair trapped in a vent? If so, your ducts might be in for a good cleaning.
Dead skin, hair and pet dander latch onto the small particles of dust on air duct surfaces, vents, motors and coils. This creates the perfect environment for bacteria, dust mites and allergens to flourish. While air filters help remove this from the air, they are still trapped in parts of the HVAC system. This is why it’s important to have ducts checked regularly – especially when they “look” dirty.
Water can be found in some crawl spaces, especially after 2-3 days of heavy rain. this can be because the earth was never fully addressed, but more often due to poor ventilation and poor ventilation technique. This air from the crawl space can enter the occupied areas of the home through the duct work of your home. To avoid damage to your home and resulting pollutants, including radon, mold, bacteria and allergens, proper moisture control techniques should be put into place.
Molds are fungi that can be found and grow both inside and outside. Molds grow best in warm, damp humid conditions, spreading and reproducing by making spores. they can survive harsh conditions. Common indoor molds include:
- Cladosporium
- Penicillum
- Alternaria
- Apergillus
- Stachybotrys chartarum
Black mold, Stachybotrys, is toxic. However, not all mold that looks black is Stachybotrys. In fact, most dark mold is not Stachybotrys – toxic mold.
However, when Stachybotrys is found, it should be taken seriously. This toxic black mold can cause mental impairment, breathing difficulties, damage to internal organs and sometimes death.
While a home may temporarily have the aroma of smelly socks, hair spray, after shave or cooking smells (the [normally] harmless odors of everyday life), most houses seem to have an overall signature smell. Some are more pleasant than others.
However, most of us know when we are smelling something that isn’t quite right – especially in an unfamiliar home or returning to our home after a vacation. Some warning signs that may indicate that there may be an indoor air quality problem that should be checked out include:
- strange odors
- poor air movement
- stale/stuffy air
- dirty/faulty central heating or air system
- damaged chimneys/pipes
- strong humidity
- mold and mildew
Those dark stains may be a result of a mold and moisture problem. It could very well be the result of rotten wood hiding in your home.
Occasionally, our houses scream for attention when they need repairs. However, rotten wood, from lingering moisture, can easily escape notice, unless you’re specifically looking for it. However, when found, it should be repaired fix it completely – including any moisture problems which may have been the catalyst. Otherwise, you will likely face more significant, expensive repairs down the road.
Those recurring stains may be a result of a mold and moisture problem. It could very well be the result of rotten wood hiding in your home.
Occasionally, our houses scream for attention when they need repairs. However, rotten wood, from lingering moisture, can easily escape notice, unless you’re specifically looking for it. However, when found, it should be repaired fix it completely – including any moisture problems which may have been the catalyst. Otherwise, you will likely face more significant, expensive repairs down the road.
That spot may be a result of a mold and moisture problem. It could very well be the result of rotten wood hiding in your home.
Occasionally, our houses scream for attention when they need repairs. However, rotten wood, from lingering moisture, can easily escape notice, unless you’re specifically looking for it. However, when found, it should be repaired fix it completely – including any moisture problems which may have been the catalyst. Otherwise, you will likely face more significant, expensive repairs down the road.