Clean Air Month

By Author: Charley Shimanski
Total Articles: 7
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The month of May is deemed to be the clean air month. All across The United States, the passing of winter has brought about a change of fresh air. Winter does seemed to have lingered on much longer this year, however not as severe in some parts of the Midwest. Since May is clean air month, this is a great opportunity to consider the cleanliness of air in homes and businesses.
What are the leading causes of poor air quality or circulation in homes?
Sudden and incidental damages such as pipe breaks that are not cleaned up well or professionally can contribute to fungal growth and spread into the air duct system. Another reason is lack of good housekeeping and changing of filters in the heating and cooling system. Certainly if it is a situation of hoarding etc., this will add to poor air quality as items made from cellulose materials will decompose.
How can homeowners or renters prevent the growth of mold in their homes?
• Maintaining appropriate levels of humidity [which may be different for various regions across the country, 40% to 50% RH should be comfortable] can make all the difference.
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... • Utilization of exhaust fans in bath and kitchen.
• Regular cleaning of bath rooms, sinks, showers etc., prevent mold and mildew from taking hold. It is important to understand that mold spores are present everywhere, the challenge arises when they are elevated and begin to take root into other cellulose materials.
• Another area to watch is furniture placed closed to the exterior walls. Due to lack of air flow behind couches or head boards, the walls tend to be colder and will cause additional condensation.
What do you do after you discover mold in your home?
If mold is found in caulking in bath or kitchen where there is greater use of water, remove the old caulking and replace with new. If found mold on drywall, at times it is possible to wipe down with a sanitizing solution when under 10 square feet or so, if it is greater, I would opt to cut out the drywall and replace with new. If there is extensive mold on structural components such as trusses, or main frame, it might be advisable to seek professional help such as ServiceMaster by Best
What behaviors can homeowners change to improve air quality in their homes?
• Keep a home clean of debris and clutter.
• Clean your carpets annually, this will keep less dust in the air that eventually ends up in the HVAC system.
• Clean your air-ducts periodically. We recommend clients clean their air duct every 3 years. Keep an eye on the return vent covers; it is obvious when they need to be cleaned.
• Change the filters regularly in the heating and cooling systems.
• Maintain appropriate levels of humidity in a home. Should you have a leak or water damage, have it cleaned or corrected professionally based on severity.
About ServiceMaster by Best
ServiceMaster by Best is a cleaning and restoration firm based in Wichita, Ks. ServiceMaster by Best has trained and certified staff to meet your regular, specialty cleaning and restoration needs. Since 2003 Best Corporation has acquired various ServiceMaster licenses to bring innovative products and services to the south Central Kansas and surrounding markets.
ServiceMaster by Best is a licensed franchisee of ServiceMaster Clean division of the ServiceMaster Family of Brands. ServiceMaster currently serves residential and commercial customers through a network of over 4,500 company-owned locations and franchised licenses. The core services of the Company include disaster response, cleaning and disaster restoration, house cleaning, commercial and janitorial cleaning, carpet cleaning and air-duct cleaning.

For More Information Please Visit Our Website at: http://www.smbybest.com