Blue Dot Services Of Maryland

3 Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air quality inside a home is usually much worse than outdoor air. In fact, indoor air quality can be two to five times more polluted than the outdoors. Microbial pollutants such as mold, pet dander, and plant pollen can combine with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to create a toxic environment in your home. Since we spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, poor air quality can add up to allergies, asthma, or worse. 

There are a number of causes of poor indoor air quality, including:

1. Furniture – Many traditional pieces of household furniture are made with finishers, sealers, and adhesives that contain chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde. When furniture outgases, it can release dangerous fumes into your home. In fact, these gases and fumes can make up to 60% of the air in a closed environment.
2. Household Chemicals – Many household products release organic vapors that can affect the air quality inside your home and may result in adverse health effects, such as throat and eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Products containing these vapors include paints, solvents, cleaners, deodorizers, and disinfectants.
3. Poor Ventilation – One of the leading causes of poor indoor air quality is poor ventilation and inadequately maintained HVAC systems. Ventilation system filters that are not replaced or repaired on a regular basis by a professional HVAC contractor may become clogged, reducing airflow volume, quality, and distribution. HVAC contractors can also check your system for leakage or cracks.

Indoor air quality can be controlled, and the first step is to contact Blue Dot Services of Maryland. Poor indoor air ventilation is one of the primary causes of poor indoor air quality, so let one of our professional HVAC contractors or repair technicians take a look at your system. We have served the Mid-Atlantic region for more than 40 years. Let us show you why we’re Maryland’s choice for air conditioning repair, installation, and maintenance. To learn more, contact us online or dial (410) 698-6465.

Tips for Surviving the Heat and Humidity as Your HVAC is Serviced

When your HVAC contractor is taking care of your air conditioning repair, it typically means two things.  One, your air conditioning is about to get a whole lot better; and two, it's going to be hot and sticky in the meantime.  Of course, there are some tricks to help you survive without your air conditioning—at least until your air conditioner is up and running again.

Here are some tips to help you survive the heat and humidity while your air conditioning is being repaired.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is a necessity when it's hot and humid outside.  Without proper hydration, you are much more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.  Children and the elderly should be especially careful, as they may be more vulnerable to overheating.

Exercise Smart

Try to walk your dog or go for a jog at the cooler times in the day, so that you won't become overly drained.  Ideally, you would take care of your exercise or dog walking earlier in the day or later in the evening when the sun isn't at full-force.

Invest in Fans

While fans can't offer the same type of cooling as an air conditioner, they can at least circulate some of the hot and sticky air, making it much more bearable while your air conditioner is being repaired.

Leave Home

When your HVAC contractor is at work, maybe you should be at play.  By seeing a movie in a theater with air conditioning or walking around a crisp, cool mall, you'll get out of the heat and experience a taste of the air conditioning you can expect when you get back home.

If you need air conditioning repair, call Blue Dot Services of Maryland today at 410-698-6465.

Join Blue Dot and the D.O. Believe Foundation at the 2nd Annual Dominator 5/10K Walk & Run on September 3rd!

Last year, Blue Dot Services and the D.O. Believe Foundation hosted their 1st Annual "Dominator" 5/10K Walk and Run to raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer research.  We reached out to local businesses and members of our community to join us in this run, and because of their help, the "Dominator" was a huge success!  We had almost 400 runners take part last year at our first annual, and we are hoping to double that number this year.

We are once again holding this event on Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 and ask for your support to make this run bigger and better. Please consider making a donation, participating in, or sponsoring the "Dominator" to continue making our vision of finding a cure for childhood cancer a reality.

Date:
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Location:
Blue Dot Services of Maryland ~ 125 Industry Lane ~ Forest Hill, MD 21050

Time:
8:00 am for the 5K Event
9:00 am for the 10K Event

Costs:
5K: $25 pre-register; $30 on race day (Register Now!)
10k: $30 pre-register; $35 on race day (Register Now!)

For more information, please visit www.dobelieve.org.

Are You Looking For Additional Information About Our Recent Blog Topics? Take a Look at These Resources

If you have read our recent blog topics on staying cool while your air conditioner is being repaired and how to maintain your AC between scheduled appointments, check out some of these great resources. For even more information, call Blue Dot Services at 410-698-6465.

• Womenshealth.about.com discusses heat-related illness and how much water you need to prevent dehydration.

• Dealing with the heat without air conditioning can be difficult.  The Herald News discusses this obstacle and what you can do about it.

• Naturemoms.com discusses some of the ways to stay cool without AC, such as opening windows and turning off lights.

• An important part of HVAC maintenance is changing the air conditioning filter.  To learn how, visit eHow.com.

• Realtor.com discusses the air conditioning maintenance that can be done yourself between professional maintenance appointments.

How Air Conditioning Works

Your air conditioning unit is a life saver, especially during the warmer months.  Not only does it keep you cool and comfortable inside your home, improving your periods of rest and relaxation, but it also works to improve the indoor air quality of your home. If you've ever wondered how an air conditioner works, watch this informative video.

Notice how your air conditioner utilizes evaporation in order to cool your home. It is by way of evaporation and condensation coils that the cold air is created.  Then a fan blows the air off the cold coils in order to reduce the temperature of your home.

At Blue Dot Services of Maryland, we are the HVAC contractor you can trust for quality air conditioning repair.  To learn more about our services, call 410-698-6465 today.