What I Can’t See Won’t Hurt Me
We all know, now more than ever before, that there are a lot of things that we cannot see that can hurt us. There are pollutants, contaminants, bacteria, and allergens floating in the air we breathe. These pollutants are not always visible to the human eye.
Many of these invisible pollutants can greatly impact your health, especially if you suffer from chronic respiratory disease and asthma. Asthma is one of the most common airway diseases, affecting more than 600,000 Quebecers, including 350,000 children. Each year, in the country, the direct and indirect costs of the treatment of asthma exceed one billion dollars. Thus, the disease causes around 60,000 emergency visits, 5,500 hospitalizations and unfortunately, between 150 and 300 deaths. (Pulmonary association)
May 5th is World Asthma Day. This is an opportunity for us all to learn more about asthma, what triggers an attack and how we can prevent these from occurring. This is an incurable disease that we all should be more aware of.
Some of the most common invisible pollutants that can impact the quality of our breathing, found in your home are:
Pollutants | Major source(s) | Health effects |
|---|---|---|
Nitrogen dioxide | Gas combustion | Chronic respiratory disease |
Carbon monoxide | Kerosene, gas and solid fuel combustion, cars idling in enclosed garage, cigarette smoke | Aggravation of cardiovascular disease, poor foetal development |
Formaldehyde | Pressed wood products, consumer products, hobby, crafts | Eye, nose, and throat irritation |
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | New building products, cleaning products, office equipment, consumer products | Eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, lethargy |
Passive smoke | Tobacco smoking | Eye, nose and throat irritation, aggravation of asthma, chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer |
House dust mite allergens | Dust mites in bedding, carpets, furniture | Aggravation of asthma, nasal inflammation, eczema |
Mould spores | Bathrooms, damp rooms, window sills, indoor plants, poorly ventilated areas | Aggravation of asthma, nasal irritation, and inflammation |
Pet dander | Cats and dogs | Aggravation of asthma and hay fever |
The above pollutants can reside in lots of different nooks and crannies in your home, so you do need to be vigilant. The most commonly used appliances in your home could be harbouring the deadliest of these pollutants, especially your air conditioner.
How to Breathe Healthy Air in Your Home
While it is impossible to change the air we breathe outside our home, we can make changes in our own homes to improve the quality of the air. There are some simple steps you can take:
- Close the windows in your home. This will prevent allergens and contaminants from entering your home and polluting your air.
- Maintain a constant room temperature with the use of an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit or air conditioning/heat-pump unit. Fluctuations in temperature can affect the respiratory system and trigger an attack.
- Ensure you have cleaned the filters on your HVAC or wall mounted air conditioner unit regularly. When you are vacuuming your floors, think about also cleaning the filters in the a/c unit. Make the cleaning of these as important as cleaning your floor. These filters are only designed to capture organisms at about 50-60 microns, that which can be seen by the human eye. Anything smaller will go through the filters and onto the coil.
- Have your entire HVAC system or air conditioning/heat-pump unit thoroughly cleaned by a professional cleaning company. This should be done only by a specialist company. HydroKleen Canada is one such company that specializes in cleaning air conditioning units.
Why Use HydroKleen?
HydroKleen is the only cleaning service company with patented equipment. HydroKleen can clean your unit in places that others cannot reach. Our technicians will test and clean your unit to the highest standard. We offer complete air conditioning cleaning. We specialize in the cleaning and disinfection of wall-mounted air conditioning/heat pump systems. After doing the HydroKleen cleanse, your air will be clean and healthy, reducing the risk of lung disease and helping you lead a healthier life. HydroKleen is the only company offering this level of service. Our cleaning process paired with our cleaning agents prevents mold growth on condensers for up to 12 months. (Depending on use)
We pride ourselves on providing prompt and professional service. We’ll be there when you need us, and we’ll get the job done to the highest standards. HydroKleen technicians will provide you with an exceptional customer experience.