6 Things That Compromise Residential Indoor Air Quality
Posted on November 4th, 2022 by carrolladmin
The quality of the indoor air you breathe can affect the health, safety, and comfort of all those living under your roof. Allergens, uncomfortable temperatures, and chronic illnesses are just a few of the many health issues brought on by poor quality air.
To ensure your home has healthy air, it’s helpful to understand the various causes of poor air quality and how to fix them. Read on to learn more about the six factors that can compromise your residential indoor air quality.
Health Effects of Poor Air Quality
Before we get to our list of common issues you may face in your home, let’s take a look at why it’s important to have good quality air.
Indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold, and other allergens can cause a wide range of immediate health effects, such as:
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Scratchy throat
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Runny eyes
It’s critical to ensure the indoor air you and your loved ones breathe doesn’t contain harmful chemicals or allergens. Here are the six things to watch out for!
1. Organic Compound/Mold
There are many different types of mold, but just two main types of mold infestations—those that you can see and those that you can’t see. Black spots on interior walls are a fairly good indicator of mold. However, mold can also accumulate in your attic, walls, and other out-of-sight areas.
Mold testing services can help you determine if the reason you’re experiencing a scratchy throat, fatigue, or difficulty breathing is due to a mold infestation. You’ll get total peace of mind knowing that mold is or isn’t the reason for the health issues your family is experiencing.
2. Dirty Air Ducts
Over time, the air ducts that run through your attic and walls tend to trap dirt, odors, dust, pet dander, and bacteria. Every time your HVAC system turns on, microscopic particles get blown into every room in your home.
Air duct cleaning services will remove the contaminants and allergens so that you’re breathing fresh, clean air. It will also help increase the lifespan of your HVAC equipment, as your A/C and heater won’t have to work so hard to deliver hot/cold air throughout your home.
3. Humidity Levels
Did you know that dry skin, respiratory problems, uncomfortable temperatures, and allergies are caused partly by homes with non-optimal humidity levels? The Mid-Atlantic area tends to experience high seasonal humidity levels.
If your home is prone to excessive humidity, or dryness, it might be time to consider calling in the professionals to add a humidifier or dehumidifier. They’ll have the tools to check your humidity levels and provide a solution to increase comfort and health.
4. Unprotected Crawl Spaces
Pests and vermin love to make humid crawl spaces their home. Their droppings can cause diseases and respiratory infections. Of course, where there is humidity, there is most likely mold.
Crawl space encapsulation services add interior drainage and a vapor barrier liner that helps prevent humidity from taking hold. Vent covers and a dehumidifier may also be required to bring the humidity in your crawl space back down to optimal levels.
5. Dryer Vents
Your dryer vents can trap large quantities of pet hair, allergens, and mold. These airborne pollutants will bypass your lint trap in small amounts and build up inside your dryer vents over time.
Dryer vent cleaning will blow out all the nasties and leave you with clothes that smell fresher and with no allergens embedded in them. You also might be surprised to learn that you can reduce your energy bill by up to 30% by having your dryer vents professionally cleaned.
6. HVAC Issues
If you don’t perform regular maintenance on your HVAC equipment, it can significantly reduce its lifespan and create a host of indoor air quality problems. Just be sure to change the A/C and heater filters according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Have your HVAC system professionally inspected at the start of summer and winter. It will help catch any issues such as leaks that encourage mildew and mold growth. An inspection may also detect problems causing the system to work harder (and suck down more electricity and gas) than usual.
Let Carroll Plumbing & Heating Improve Your Residential Indoor Air Quality
A wide range of factors can negatively affect your indoor air—and the health of everyone living underneath your roof.
If you’re experiencing health problems, notice odd smells, or suspect you have poor residential indoor air quality, get in touch with the experts at Carroll Plumbing & Heating. We can improve your air and help decrease your energy bill at the same time.
