Indoor Air Pollution And Why It Can Be Harmful To Your Health

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on
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Indoor Air Pollution And Why It Can Be Harmful To Your Health

In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) due to the realization that we spend a large majority of our time indoors. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the “average person spends about 90% of their time indoors” and “children spend as much as 95% of their time indoors.”  In other words, the air we breathe inside our homes, schools, and workplaces is often more polluted than the air outdoors. IAQ can be adversely affected by a number of factors such as inadequate ventilation, poor construction, high temperature and humidity, use of certain products and chemicals, and exposure to molds and dust mites.indoor-air-pollution-ez-breathe-1 The use of fossil fuels has led to an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, which is a major contributor to climate change. In addition, the burning of fossil fuels emits other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), and heavy metals into the air. These pollutants can have harmful effects on human health, vegetation, and infrastructure. For example, exposure to PM has been linked to respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. In addition, SO2 and NOx can react with other atmospheric compounds to form acid rain, which damages forests and aquatic ecosystems. As a result, it is evident that there is a need to improve indoor air quality in order to protect human health and the environment.indoor-air-pollution-ez-breathe-2These conditions can lead to a variety of health problems such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, eye irritation, and difficulty in concentration. In severe cases, IAQ problems can cause or worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma. Given the importance of IAQ to our health, it is crucial to take measures to improve it. Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken to improve IAQ, including ensuring adequate ventilation, using natural or low-emitting materials for flooring and furnishings, and regularly cleaning and maintaining ventilation systems. By taking these steps, we can ensure that our indoor spaces are healthy and comfortable places to live and work.

Contact the Professionals at EZ Breathe Today! 866-822-7328

EZ Breathe Home Ventilation System
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Written by Andre & Erika Lacroix

We are a 2nd generation family owned and operated business that has been working in homes with basements and crawl spaces for over 40 years.  We have been waterproofing and sealing about 500 foundations a month during that time as the largest Waterproofing contractor in the Midwest with 15 locations servicing 8 states.

20 years ago we would seal a foundation and recommend a standard dehumidifier to address the additional water vapor (humidity in the air) inherently found in below grade environments, such as basements and crawlspaces.  Back then, dehumidifiers were the industry standard to help with this problem. However, many of our customers were looking to us as the “foundation expert”, asking…

“What else do you have? I really am not getting results with this messy, expensive dehumidifier. My foundation is dry, walls are dry, floor is dry, so why does it still smell and feel like a basement?” 

We needed to find something better. Our company’s core values include offering world class customer service to every customer, every time.   So, we challenged our Research and Development department to find a real solution for our customers to combat not only the moisture, but also the odors, pollutants and unhealthy environment our customers were concerned about. We found, tested and installed a ventilation product for a period of three years. We private labeled that product as the EZ Breathe Ventilation System. The feedback in those first three years from our customers, as well as our installation crews, did not live up to the standard of quality to be included in our waterproofing process that offered a life time warranty. Once again, we needed something better.

We valued not only the results, but what we were learning from our customers. So, we went back to the drawing board, took matters into our own hands and made quality improvements to that first generation ventilation unit.

Our own EZ Breathe Ventilation System was born…reengineered, redesigned and much improved! We quickly learned that our crews were thrilled with the quality improvements, ease of operation and installation, but more importantly, our waterproofing customers loved the new, improved EZ Breathe unit as well.

Their feedback told us the air in their basements and crawlspaces felt better, but their entire home was benefiting from their EZ Breathe as well. We received countless letters thanking us because their whole house felt different, less odors, fresher air upstairs too, family members were feeling better, needing less allergy medicine, husbands were no longer snoring, children were no longer coughing as much, the home and it’s family were living healthier lives!

It was time for us to move beyond simply offering this innovative technology to just our waterproofing customers. Our passion and commitment to helping people improve their indoor air environments is what drove us to incorporate EZ Breathe Ventilation Systems as an independent company in 2003. We strongly believe that homeowners everywhere deserve a healthy indoor air quality.

We have spent the last 20 years dedicated to learning about the relationship between our home and our health; indoor air quality, the home as a system, building science and how it relates to indoor air quality as well as the challenges our modern day practices pose to the quality of air we breathe in our homes.