Achieving optimum indoor air quality in your home is crucial for your family’s health. It is a topic that is often ignored, but paying attention to it will have noticeable benefits. Poor indoor air quality can lead to an array of health conditions, including fatigue, headaches, asthma, and allergies.
Lack of quality indoor air can also start to impact other aspects of life, including productivity, poor sleep, and absence from work. There are common factors that create poor indoor air quality. We’ll discuss them in this article and provide solutions for you to solve and prevent this silent problem.
Lack of Regular HVAC Maintenance
One of the most common factors that creates poor indoor air quality is your HVAC system. When this vital system in your home lacks regular maintenance, it will create problems inside your home. The HVAC system regulates your air conditioning, heating, and ventilation. Modern HVAC systems are more energy efficient and could keep your air free of pollutants and foul odors.
When this vital home system is not properly maintained, it can become a source of mold, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants circulating throughout your home. HVAC professionals can help you keep your system working optimally. Consistent maintenance prevents contaminated air from circulating by keeping filters clean, ducts unclogged, and all system components working optimally.
Harmful Chemical Pollutants
Another common factor that contributes to poor indoor air quality is the accumulation of chemical pollutants. Most of us use products without thinking about the impact they may have on our indoor air quality. Unfortunately, you may be using products in your household that contain harmful compounds.
Unless you’re using products certified to not contain harmful chemicals, you are likely polluting your indoor air. Hazardous chemicals can have both short and long-term health effects, such as:
- Respiratory irritation
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
Hazardous chemicals can contribute to serious illnesses, including respiratory disease and cancer. This a common problem that has been plaguing our modern world for decades, but fortunately, an increasing number of natural products are now coming to market.
Improper Ventilation
Breathing fresh air is a vital component of maintaining good health. When the weather is hot and you use air conditioning systems to cool your home, it is easy to forget to open windows. Moreover, the desire to conserve energy and contain cooled air inside your home may lead you to keep your windows shut for too long.
Opening windows daily and allowing fresh air to circulate throughout your home can help prevent stale air in your home. Even if you have a quality air purifier that cleans your indoor air, nothing compares to allowing fresh air to circulate. It creates a fresh scent that can’t be achieved artificially.
Poor Housekeeping Habits
You can increase the quality of your indoor air by following good housekeeping habits. The lack of cleanliness inside your home can lead to the accumulation of dirt, debris, dust, and other airborne pollutants. Regularly dusting your home’s surfaces goes a long way to achieving good air quality. Additionally, upholstery and carpets must be regularly vacuumed or washed to prevent them from releasing airborne particles.
For example, dirty carpets accumulate dust mites, debris, and other contaminants that eventually get released into the air. This leads to health conditions that affect your respiratory system and overall health.
Unregulated Humidity and Moisture
Some climates, such as those near large bodies of water, have high humidity in the air. However, no matter in which region you live, you must regulate humidity and moisture inside your home. Modern HVAC systems can regulate the excess humidity inside your home. If you have an older HVAC system, this is likely not happening. In this case, you’ll want to consider installing an upgraded HVAC system.
You might be wondering why moisture is a problem inside your home. Although it may seem harmless, excess moisture creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, negatively impacting your health. It can also be harmful to your home’s structure and your belongings.
If you’re noticing an unusual spike in your indoor humidity, it could indicate a more serious underlying problem. A faulty roof or plumbing system introduces moisture where it’s not supposed to be. This can lead to water damage that penetrates your house’s structure. It’s important to fix this problem immediately before mold starts to flourish. Our expert plumbers can find any hidden leaks and fix them before they cause more damage.
Air that is too dry can also cause problems. It can lead to dry, itchy skin. It can also aggravate respiratory symptoms and snoring. Overly dry air can also be harmful to your home and furniture, leading to cracked, dull wood.
At Davis & Green, we can install humidifiers and dehumidifiers to create a healthier environment in your home. Our experienced HVAC professional can guide you as you learn to monitor your system and ensure that you use the correct humidity settings.
Are You Ready to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality?
Now that you understand the most common factors that lead to poor indoor air quality, you have a good idea of what you can do to improve your home’s environment. With some attention to improving indoor air quality, you will notice that it has become an easy practice that dramatically pays off.
Let’s review some practices to keep in mind to ensure quality indoor air:
- Keep HVAC system regularly maintained by a professional
- Eliminate chemical pollutants
- Ventilate your home daily
- Practice good housekeeping habits
- Keep humidity and moisture regulated
By following these tips, you can keep the indoor air quality inside your home at its best. It is worth paying attention to as it is often a silent problem that can be easily ignored. With consistent attention to this issue, you will start to notice the benefits of quality indoor air.
Nothing is more important than the health of your family. When your indoor air quality is at its best, you will start to notice improvements in your family’s health and an increased feeling of well-being. Don’t allow poor air quality to creep up on your family. It is a problem that is easy to prevent.
Working With an HVAC Professional To Achieve Quality Indoor Air
A key resource to ensure your home has the best indoor air quality is working with a trusted HVAC professional. Our experienced team at Davis & Green has helped clients achieve the best quality indoor air in their homes. We have the expertise and tools to help your family enjoy the healthiest air quality.
As a trusted HVAC company in Richmond, VA and the surrounding area, we like to educate our clients about their HVAC systems and how to achieve the most quality indoor air. In addition to heating and cooling services, we also provide our community with plumbing, electric, and construction services. We are a team of highly trained and experienced professionals that practice the best industry standards.
If you’re looking to improve the quality of your indoor air, call our experienced team at Davis & Green today!
