Indoor Air Quality

You Can Breathe Easy With Gallagher's On Your Side

Watching an innocent three-year old child gasp for air while they suffer an asthma attack is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences you can imagine. Yet more and more people suffer from respiratory afflictions than ever before.

The Environmental Protection Agency has ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental dangers to the public. Why? It's simple: Because Americans, on average, spend about 90% of their time indoors, inside homes that are built tighter and more insulated than they used to be.

While this has an obvious advantage when it comes to conserving energy (and saving money), it is also a huge problem, as it locks in allergenic materials and other infectious and toxic agents.

At Gallagher's Heating and Air Conditioning, we can reduce-and in many cases eliminate altogether-these household pollutants that cause so many problems, particularly for children.

Take this quick air quality test to see if you might benefit from Gallagher's indoor air improvements:

1. Do you have cracks in walls, sweating windows, pooled water, peeling paint or mold?
2. Can you hear whistling or extra loud air noise from your duct work?
3. After not being in your home for a few days, does anyone in the home notice an unusual odor when you return?
4. Does anyone in your home find themselves sneezing or coughing more in the evening then during the day?
5. Does anyone in your home have a runny nose for more then 7 days in a row.
6. Does anyone in your home suffer from constant sinus pressures?
7. Does anyone in your home ever experience headaches more then 3 times a month?
8. Does anyone in your home have a hard time sleeping?
9. Does anyone in the home take asthma medication?
10. Does anyone in the home suffer nose bleeds?
11. Is there dark discoloration around your fireplace or wood stove?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, we can help.

Gallagher's solutions to improve the air in your home

Pollutants get into your home a number of different ways. The first step is to stop pollution at the source. While pets owners and smokers are usually aware of some of the sources of pollutants in their homes, most of us are not aware that our comfort systems can be making conditions worse.

An unbalanced or leaking duct system can become a source of many pollutants that cause serious health problems. Having your duct system sealed and balanced and cleaned can reduce dust in your home. It will not clean your home (That' still up to you!).

Links to learn more about Indoor Air Quality

US Environmental Protection Agency Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQINFO)

P.O. Box 37133
Washington, DC 20013-7133
(800) 438-4318
www.epa.gov/iaq/

American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org

Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Online
allergy.mcg.edu/

American Lung Association
Health House Program
490 Concordia Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55103
(877) 521-1491
www.healthhouse.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) www.niaid.nih.gov/default.htm
National Duct Cleaners Association
(207) 737-2926
www.nadca.com

Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/environment/indoor_air.htm
Canadian Lung Association
www.lung.ca/indoor_air/

Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/biol_hazards/iaq_mold.htm