Los Angeles Indoor Air Quality - Could Your Home Be Making You Sick? by Jonathan P. Lewis

In Los Angeles, despite the advances in smog control, an unseen enemy to good health could be even more dangerous - and it's lurking right within your own home.

Who would have thought that the air in your home could be a health hazard?

After a couple of hours in heavy traffic, most Los Angeles commuters are happy to escape to what they believe to be the safety and security of their own home - and the clean air within it. Yet their indoor air quality may not be as clean as they think... According to studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in some areas of Los Angeles indoor air quality may be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. The EPA ranks poor indoor air quality among the top 5 environmental risks to public health.

Here's one reason why...

Poorly maintained air ducts and filters.

Poorly maintained air ducts can result in bacteria, viruses, dust mites, pet dander, dead skin cells and many other harmful pollutants circulating unseen in your home. And, if you suffer from asthma, bronchitis, sinus problems, eye irritation, headaches or allergies, indoor air quality may be making matters worse.

In particular the incidence of both asthma and allergies in Los Angeles is directly affected by poor air quality.

There is a simple answer...

Air duct cleaning.

Cleaning air ducts to remove pollutants nestling within the ducts will restore clean air flow, improve indoor air quality and help you and your family live a more healthy life.

Here are three steps to protecting your home environment...

1 - Have a free air quality inspection and breathe easier.

Air quality testing can be performed by a professional air duct cleaning company - legitimate companies will perform an inspection free of charge or obligation.

2 - Cleaning air ducts and vents and filters.

This simple step will dramatically reduce the amount of pollutants you and your family are breathing inside your home.

3 - Schedule regular cleaning.

Maintaining clean air ducts and clean air filters will keep your indoor air clean, fresh and safe. And a new generation of washable filters can block virtually all pollutants and are easily maintained.

If your home was previously occupied, it’s difficult to know exactly how clean the air ducts and vents are. A professional air duct cleaning company can give you peace of mind about the condition of air ducts and vents by performing a free air quality inspection. Not all companies offering air duct cleaning in Los Angeles are equal however.

When choosing an air duct cleaning company, there are three things to check before lifting the phone...

1 - Check that the company is licensed to operate in the state of California.

2 - Check that the company is fully insured and bonded.

3 - Check for recommendations from satisfied customers on review sites such as Angie's List, Service Magic and Yelp.

Following these six steps will ensure a worry-free future as your home will be free from pollution and you and your family will be able to live a healthier life.

Copyright 2010 Jonathan P. Lewis