Many homeowners do not think much about indoor air quality. They likely assume that the air in their home is clean and healthy at all times. Unfortunately, the reality can be much different. Discover seven factors that can affect your indoor air quality.
1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Volatile organic compounds may emanate from paint, new flooring, petroleum fuels, and other countless household products. Exposure to large amounts of VOCs can cause health problems like fatigue, nausea, migraines, and allergies.
To keep yourself and your family safe, ensure you have proper ventilation when using any chemicals within the house. Ideally, only use products that are labeled VOC-free.
2. Radon Gas
Radon gas occurs naturally in rock and soil in some regions, but it can get into your home through foundation cracks or by diffusing through the soil. Once inside your home, it can accumulate to dangerous levels and cause lung cancer. One way to deal with radon gas is to improve ventilation.
3. Particles
The air inside your home may contain particles that cause respiratory or cardiovascular problems. These particles may emanate from outdoor air or even indoor sources, such as cooking and combustion. Additionally, dust particles from dirty carpets, clothing fibers, dead skin cells, and pollen may accumulate in your home and become a nuisance, especially for people with asthma and allergies.
You have multiple ways to deal with these particles. These include cleaning and vacuuming your carpets and rugs, scheduling regular annual duct cleanings to eliminate airborne particle buildup, and keeping your AC in top working condition.
4. Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colorless gas produced through combustion. All fuel-burning appliances within your home, including your furnace, gas water heater, gas dryers, gas stoves, wood stoves, fireplaces, and generators, can emit carbon monoxide. Unfortunately, this gas is highly toxic, with carbon monoxide poisoning potentially causing serious tissue damage and even death.
Some reasons why your fuel-burning appliances can produce carbon monoxide include:
- You have a poor ventilation system
- You have a leak in the appliance
- The appliance has inefficient combustion (due to air restriction)
When you suspect high carbon monoxide levels in your home, call HVAC professionals immediately to inspect and fix the problem.
5. Pets and Pests
While your pets are loving and cute, they can also affect indoor air quality if you are not careful. For example, cats and dogs usually shed fur and danger that can trigger allergic reactions. However, pests such as rodents often leave droppings that cause allergies and other serious diseases such as Hantavirus, salmonellosis, bubonic plague, and rat-bite fever.
In most cases, high quantities of pet dander and pest droppings indicate your HVAC system does not have the right filter. Therefore, start by getting the right filter for your system and then change the air filters regularly to improve your indoor air quality.
6. Humidity Levels
Keeping your indoor humidity at optimal levels is essential for clean air. Too much humidity can cause mold growth, resulting in other health issues such as lung irritation, nasal stuffiness, and respiratory distress. Lack of humidity can cause dry eyes, rashes, and skin irritation.
Schedule an HVAC service to determine the cause of the unfavorable humidity levels. The problem could be from changing climate, poor ventilation, or a malfunctioning air conditioning system. The cause of the problem will determine the remedies to take.
If you suspect your air quality is compromised, do not hesitate to contact CABS Heating & Air Conditioning. Our certified HVAC technicians will perform the necessary tests and offer practical solutions. We look forward to helping your home’s air be clean and healthy.
