Spring is always a welcome sight after a long Maryland winter. If you suffer from allergies, spring is a beautiful but tough time of year. Most people assume pollen, grass, and other debris floating in the air causes their allergy symptoms. While those things don’t help them, they’re not the only cause. The quality of air inside your home also matters! An energy audit tests that air and improves it.

Most people spend almost 90% of their day indoors – 65% of that time they are at home. According to studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor levels of pollutants – Pollen, dirt, pet dander, dust mites, bacteria, viruses, and mold – may be two to five times greater than outdoor levels!

So, poor indoor air quality will only make allergies and asthma worse!

Spring cleaning is one way to control allergy and asthma symptoms. There are so many ways to control asthma the right way. An energy audit is at the top of the list!

When you think of air pollution, you may tend to think of the great outdoors. But what about the air inside of your home?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air every day, with children breathing, even more, air per pound.” By coming to a better understanding of what indoor air pollutants are and working to control them, homeowners can help reduce their risk for health concerns.

There are numerous contaminants that can affect your air quality. The American Lung Association identifies some common indoor air pollutants such as:

• Radon
• Carbon monoxide
• Carpets
• Mold and mildew
• Volatile organic compounds

Other factors such as “air-freshening” devices, animal droppings from critters who have found their way into your home and moisture in crawl spaces that have wicked up the wood and is now causing mildew can impact the air quality in your home and lead to trouble breathing, irritation, and possible illness.

When unhealthy indoor air affects your family’s health, symptoms can include itchy or irritated eyes, nose, throat, headaches, asthma, and dizziness. Some respiratory diseases, heart disease or cancer may not show up until years after exposure. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 12 people have asthma, with the numbers increasing every year.

So how can you ensure that your family is breathing the cleanest and safest air possible? An energy audit.

Minnick’s Energy Audit detects issues with your ductwork, HVAC system, and insulation.

An energy audit improves indoor air quality and lowers utility bills.

Your house contains several systems that work together to provide comfort and safety. When one is not functioning correctly, all of the others have to work harder, which leads to more frequent breakdowns, costly repairs, and poor IAQ.

A home energy audit allows a homeowner owner to clearly see what steps must be taken to improve the efficiency of their home and their HVAC system and ductwork. Once these steps are completed, the home or building will not only be more comfortable, energy bills will shrink, and indoor air quality will improve. That is what we like to call a win-win.

Minnick’s approach to the HVAC in your home is holistic. We review all of the different parts and systems, along with entry and exit points to make sure everything is working together.