Winter is in full swing and people throughout the United States are enjoying the holiday season. Soon it will be New Year’s Eve and we’ll be ushering in 2013. However, as part of making the new year better than the last, addressing indoor air pollution is very important.

According to a guide to indoor air quality published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.” Central heating and cooling systems are one of the main sources of pollutants, and some illnesses can be traced to microorganisms that grow in such systems.

The EPA suggests having a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnace, flues, and chimneys) annually. It’s also a good idea to clean air ducts with anti-bacterial and microbial sprays. And if your budget permits, you may want to have an ultraviolet germicidal light installed in your heating system, which is a relatively inexpensive way to reduce indoor pollution.

For more information on improving indoor air quality, visit the EPA’s website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidestory.html

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