We are indoors a lot. In fact, the EPA has calculated the majority of people spend 90% of their day inside a building, where air quality can be 2–5 times poorer than outside.
Poor indoor air quality can have an adverse effect on your wellness. That’s why it’s important to identify the symptoms of poor air quality in your residence, what leads to it and how to fix it.
If you’re wondering how you can tell if your Central Point home’s air quality is bad, our team of HVAC professionals at Titan Heating & Air Conditioning can help. We’ll go over the troubles you’re experiencing and offer ideas to make your house’s air fresher.
What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?
When you think of pollution, you usually think of smog. But ordinary items in your home can produce pollution by the gases or particles they release into the air.
These origins consist of:
- Carbon monoxide
- Cleaning, personal care and hobby items
- Combustion appliances, for example a furnace or stove that uses gas
- Dust, animal dander and pollen
- Too much moisture
- HVAC units
- New flooring or carpeting
- Secondhand smoke
- Synthetic building materials, such as furniture manufactured from pressed wood
Indoor air pollution can be exacerbated by a lack of ventilation in your residence, as well as warm temperatures and humidity. Today’s homes are tightly sealed for energy conservation, which is a plus for your energy costs but not so fantastic when you require additional fresh air inside.
Can Poor Indoor Air Quality Make You Sick?
Because people respond differently to indoor air pollutants, you might experience symptoms now or later on. Your symptoms may go away when you leave your house but worsen when you return.
Some of the most usual immediate issues involve:
- Irritated eyes, nose or throat
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
If someone in your family deals with allergies or asthma, their symptoms could be more severe.
Repeated or prolonged exposure could lead to respiratory diseases, heart disease or even cancer, the EPA warns.
Other Symptoms of Low Indoor Air Quality and How to Make It Better
Your home will also indicate that its air isn’t as clean as it could be.
- Your house is extremely dusty, particularly around the vents. It’s normal for your residence to get dusty in a week’s time, but buildup close to your air registers should be cause for concern. There are other things within dust, like dust mites, pollen and pet dander, that can affect your health, particularly if you struggle with allergies or asthma. A better-quality air filter or whole-home air filtration system can help reduce dust and other irritating pollutants.
- Your house has hot and cold spots. Your heating and cooling system might be failing to maintain correct temperature and humidity percentages. Or there might be air distribution troubles due to your heating and cooling equipment or ductwork. Our Titan Heating & Air Conditioning professionals can pinpoint the trouble and advise repairs or replacement.
- Your house’s air seems too dry or too wet. We suggest maintaining your home’s humidity percentage around 30–40% for optimal comfort. If your residence isn’t humid enough during cold weather, your skin and throat could feel itchy. You might also have colds and other respiratory illnesses more frequently. If your residence is too humid during warm weather, you may have higher mold and mildew growth, both of which are detrimental to your health. You can fight these problems with a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier, which works with your heating and cooling equipment to give appropriate humidity across your home.
- Your home has lingering odors. You may detect a stuffy scent when you come home. Or a cooking scent that just won’t dissipate. Since it’s not feasible to keep your windows open all the time, a whole-home ventilation system can get your home smelling good again. It exchanges stale inside air with fresh outdoor air.
Other approaches the EPA advises doing include keeping your home smoke-free, getting carbon monoxide alarms and maintaining your home comfort equipment. Annual furnace maintenance and AC maintenance helps keep your units clean and efficient and can even help them last longer.
We Can Help Improve Your House’s Indoor Air Quality
If you suspect your home has air quality trouble, give our Titan Heating & Air Conditioning HVAC specialists a call at 541-286-6617 or contact us online. We’re available to discuss solutions and provide a free estimate.