Valdosta Air Quality Concerns

There is no question that South Georgia is a terrific place to live. We are blessed with a great quality of life and with great people. We do have our challenges, however and keeping our homes comfortable year round and maintaining good indoor air quality are among the major challenges. During Spring and Summer it is not unusual to see days in the mid to high 90s with matching humidity and we have been known to have some fairly cool winter nights also. The average high temperature in July is South Georgia is nearly 93 degrees with very little relief during the night time hours. To go along with the high temperatures and high humidity we also have to be aware of our indoor air quality. The air quality index in the area is 96 which is relatively high and that rating is based on the average number of ozone warning days per year as well as the number of pollutants in the air as reported by the EPA. The Nitrogen Dioxide level is an astounding 168 as compared to the national average of 100. Nitrogen Dioxide is caused by vehicle emissions among other things and is responsible for a plethora of upper respiratory problems. And there is no question that these problems are magnified in our homes in the summertime.

Warm weather does bring new problems to indoor air quality. When it is cooler our people tend to just open windows more. When those windows are open there tend to be high particle levels and low chemical pollutant levels. That is because fresh springtime breezes bring with them pollen, dust and bioaerosols like bacteria and fungi. Chemical pollutants like cleaning chemicals and artificial fragrances tend to show up at very low levels because these substances are typically found inside the home, not outside. So, when we introduce outside air, the chemical levels are diluted dramatically.

Summertime brings with it a whole new set of challenges in solving Indoor Air Quality problems. When it gets hot out we tend to close up the house and turn on our air conditioning equipment. When we do that we create what is called a “tight building envelope”. Fewer open windows mean fewer spaces for air to get in from outside or to escape from the inside. This creates the opposite problem of what we experienced when we had the windows open. Now we see lower particulate counts because the outside air is not coming in but we also see a much higher level of chemical pollutants in our houses.

Chemical pollutants can build up from a variety of sources inside the home. Because the house is closed up and has a “tight envelope” those chemicals have no place to go. High chemical pollutant levels can cause a myriad of health problems such as headaches, nose and throat discomfort, fatigue and even liver and kidney damage.

The upside of running the air conditioner constantly is that if you have a good filtration system we are constantly removing particulates from the air. but if the system is off and we have no air moving we also have no filtration. That takes care of our particulate problem but what about all those built up chemicals? There are several things you can do.

The most effective way to reduce the levels of harmful pollutants is to remove the sources. This means getting rid of excess cleaning products, tossing out those air fresheners and storing pesticides and fertilizers in the shed instead of the garage. If chemicals are still a concern (and we can let you know if you should be concerned with a simple indoor air quality test that we can perform for you) then there are several mechanical solutions that we will be happy to discuss with you which can leave you with a clean comfortable and healthy indoor home environment. Shown below are some additional facts about indoor air quality and what you can do to make it better.

Indoor Air Quality

According to the EPA, the air inside the average home is up to five times more polluted than the air outside. Pollen, dust mites, dirt, and mold spores in your home's air can cause minor health problems like eye and nose irritation, dizziness, and headaches. Indoor air pollution can also cause more serious problems like respiratory illness, as well as aggravate allergies and asthma. There are three ways you can improve the air quality in your home:

Source Control

You can eliminate many pollutants like dust and pet dander by careful household cleaning. Making sure your heating and air conditioning systems are well-maintained also helps remove pollutants before they reach your home, and cleaning air duct systems may be helpful in keeping your systems maintained.

Improved Ventilation

You can decrease the concentration of indoor pollutants by increasing the quantity of air circulating. Open windows and doors, and use window or attic fans. Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans move indoor pollutants out of the room, and increase the outdoor ventilation rate at the same time.

Air Cleaners

Well-maintained and efficient air cleaners can significantly lower the amount of pollutants in the air. Their usefulness varies considerably, depending on the type of cleaner (table-top models will probably be less effective than a whole-house system), and on the strength of the indoor pollution source. See our products page for details.

Contact us to find out which methods are best for your home. For more information, read The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, and the EPA’s Basic Information about Indoor Air Quality.