What you should know about the air in your home.

We can’t see the bacteria, germs, viruses, gases and pet dander circulating through our indoor air, but we don’t want to breathe it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks. The air inside an average home is up to five times, and can be as high as one hundred times more polluted than the outside air. Research also shows that a person spends 90% of their time indoors. There are many health risks we can avoid if we had information to make informed choices.

First, it is important to know what causes poor indoor air quality and how to protect your home.

Common causes of poor indoor air quality:

• Poor ventilation
• Gases that are emitted from malfunctioning stoves, appliances, space heaters and furnaces
• Moisture in the home that will cause mold growth
• Pet dander
• Chemical odors and vapors from cleaning supplies, paint and cooking appliances

How you can protect your home:

• Improve ventilation – Open windows when weather permits, run the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, run attic fans, install an Energy Recovery Ventilation unit
• Put Carbon Monoxide monitors in your home
• Change your filters monthly
• Install an air purification system with your heating and cooling system
• Have your home weatherized

GSM Services has trained technicians to perform safety inspections and comfort advisors who can do a free whole home energy evaluation on your home. We can give you options to help you make informed decisions about the air quality in your home.