QCI, Inc. believes that a safe home environment includes having the cleanest air possible. Our team of highly trained indoor environmental professionals hold multiple certifications and are experts in indoor air quality solutions. Our mission is to provide you and your family with the highest quality air quality analysis and solutions possible!

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

The primary cause of poor indoor air quality in homes is from pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air. Inadequate ventilation in your home can increase indoor pollutant levels. Not enough outdoor air is brought in to dilute emissions from indoor sources or carry indoor air pollutants out of the home. Some indoor air pollutants increase in high temperatures and high humidity levels.

Two Kinds of Indoor Air Hazards

There are two types of indoor air pollutants – chemical and biological.

  1. Chemical Indoor Air Pollutants – Gases such as carbon monoxide or particles such as soot or aerosol.
  2. Biological Indoor Air Pollutants – Elements that come from living things such as mites, mold growth and dander.

One of the most common types of indoor air pollutants is smoke. Second-hand smoke is not only hazardous to you and your family’s health, it penetrates furniture, bedding and draperies, causing household odor. QCI, Inc. provides chemical free smoke odor removal using hydroxyl generators.

Sources of Indoor Air Pollutants

  • There are actually many potential sources of air pollution in the home such as:
  • Building materials and furnishings – Asbestos-containing Insulation, Damp Carpet or Pressed-wood Cabinetry or Furniture.
  • Combustion sources – Gas, oil, wood, kerosene, coal and tobacco.
  • Products for household cleaning, maintenance, hobbies or personal care.
  • Air conditioning, heating and humidification systems.
  • Outdoor sources such as pesticides, radon and outdoor air pollution.

For most indoor air quality problems, eliminating the source of pollution or reducing pollutant emissions is the best solution. Certain pollutants can be removed entirely. Others, like the emissions from a gas stove, can be adjusted.

Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality

High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air of your home long after pollutant emissions have subsided if there is poor ventilation. Pollutants can accumulate to levels that are high enough to cause health and comfort problems.

Newer homes are designed to minimize the amount of outdoor air that can leak in and out, which can actually cause higher pollutant levels than older homes that are not as tight. However, indoor air pollutants can easily build up in older homes or homes that are considered leaky as a result of certain weather conditions.

Improving Your Home’s Ventilation

The concentration of indoor air pollutants in your home can often be lowered by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming in. You can increase ventilation by:

  • Opening windows and doors when weather permits
  • Operating window or attic fans
  • Using bathroom or kitchen fans


Effectiveness of Indoor Air Cleaners

There are many air cleaners on the market in all types and sizes from table-top models to systems designed to clean the whole house.

Keep in mind that indoor air cleaners are generally not designed to remove gaseous pollutants and some air cleaners are more effective than others. It all depends on how well the air cleaner collects pollutants from indoor air and how much air it draws through its cleaning or filtering element.

For individuals with sensitivity to a particular source, indoor air cleaners may only help in conjunction with efforts to remove the source.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air cleaners are not currently recommended as a means for reducing levels of radon and its decay products.

Health and Indoor Air Pollution

Health effects from indoor air pollutants can be immediate or long term.

Immediate effects may include symptoms such as:

  • Eye, Nose and/or Throat Irritation
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue

Typically, immediate effects are short-term, treatable and usually go away when exposure to the pollutant source is eliminated. However, certain immediate effects similar to cold symptoms or viruses can make indoor air pollutants difficult to detect. Some immediate effects may get worse due to inadequate outdoor air supply or from heating, cooling or humidity conditions in the home.

Long term effects can show up years after exposure to a pollutant source or after repeated or long periods of exposure such as:

  • Respiratory Diseases
  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Death

With state-of the-art equipment, knowledge, training and experience, our professional team of experts will assess and restore proper air quality in your home or business. For more information on residential or commercial air quality testing and/or air quality consulting, please fill out our online contact form or call us at 813 298-7007 or 727 686-7373.

Your health and Safety are Our Top Priority!!

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