Indoor Air Quality from McCarthy Services

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution can be a tremendous health risk to your family; it is among the top five environmental health risks. Considering the average American spends 90% of their time indoors, your air quality should be a concern.

In your home, you may be surrounded by harmful contaminants you can’t see, such as dust, smoke, pollen, dander, dust mites, molds, and bacteria. Gaseous pollutants may also surround you, coming from gas stoves, vehicle exhaust, paints, pesticides, and cleaning products. These particulates can be dispersed into your air every day through your home comfort system. In addition to air cleaners, McCarthy Services in the Alexandria, VA area offers a suite of indoor air quality products designed to keep you and your family breathing their best. 

Air Duct Cleaning in Alexandria, VA

To clean your ducts, we use a HEPA VAC machine that is designed specifically for duct cleaning. Additionally, the blower assembly and evaporator coil in your equipment are also cleaned. Afterward, our anti-microbial fog treatment will sanitize your ducts for germs, bacteria, and fungus. This anti-microbial treatment should be repeated every 6 months.

Whole House Air Purifiers

While not every harmful contaminant can be removed from your home, whole house air cleaners can remove up to 99%. At McCarthy Services, our indoor air quality specialists offer three kinds of air cleaners: electronic air cleaners (also known as electrostatic air cleaners), HEPA air cleaners and UV air cleaners (also known as UV germicidal lamps). Electronic air cleaners use electrical charges to remove unwanted particles. In a HEPA air cleaner, a very thick and condense filter, known as a HEPA filter, captures particles before they can be dispersed in your air. UV air cleaners use ultraviolet light to break apart and ultimately destroy the DNA structure of germs and other microorganisms as they pass through your heating and cooling system.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home today. The purpose of a carbon monoxide detector is to determine the presence and level of carbon monoxide (CO) gas. If levels are high enough to create a danger for carbon monoxide poisoning, the detector will sound an alarm. To protect your family, you should install multiple CO detectors throughout your home and test them monthly.

UV Light Lamps

A UV Lamp is installed directly into the ductwork of your HVAC system (requiring very little space), works every hour to destroy germs and other airborne microorganisms, and is completely silent in its operation. It also is relatively inexpensive to run, costing no more than energy efficient fluorescent lights.

Whole House Humidifiers

How does a whole house humidifier help? It balances the moisture in your air by creating water vapor and dispersing it through your ducts and vents. It is installed directly onto your existing heating and cooling system and monitors the humidity in your home to produce the right level of moisture you need.

Another benefit to whole house humidifiers is that the filters only needs replacement about once a year, causing it to be a low-maintenance and inexpensive accessory over its lifespan.

Whole House Dehumidifiers

While a humidifier adds water to the air in your home, a dehumidifier reduces it by condensing the water vapor in the air, converting it to liquid, and keeping it contained before it is able to be re-evaporated and recycled into your living space. Whole house dehumidifiers are installed directly into your HVAC system and ductwork.

Easy Steps to Improve Your Air Quality

So, you know you have an air quality problem in your home. The question is, how do you fix it? Believe it or not, opening a window or two is a great first step. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a well-sealed home has very high pollutant levels. While opening a window won’t be great for your home’s energy efficiency, it can freshen the air and be better for your lungs. Here are some other great ideas you can incorporate for better home air quality:

• Avoid using chemical air fresheners. Use essential oils and candles instead.
• Avoid buying furniture treated with flame retardant chemicals.
• Use natural deodorizers like baking soda or Moso bags to eliminate odors.
• Vacuum your rugs and floors often
• Use a doormat to eliminate debris buildup in your home.
• Incorporate a quality HEPA-certified air filtration unit in your home’s HVAC system.

We offer a wide range of HEPA-certified air purifying solutions and we’ll be happy to diagnose your air quality and offer affordable options. Contact us now to find out how we can best serve you.