When nearly a quarter of American office workers report air quality problems in their place of work, you have to wonder what their home air quality is like. Homes tend not to be checked for health risks as much as work environments. Isn’t it time you checked your home air quality? When was the last time you checked your home’s air quality? Perhaps you’ve never tested it. Read on to learn how to check your indoor air quality.
You’re Testing Your Indoor Air Quality Everyday
Every day that you’re in your home you are testing the air quality on your body. Whenever you breathe the air and live in your home environment your body is responding to the air and whatever impurities are in it. For many people, it’s this experience that prompts them to have air quality testing done.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) or other more minor air quality problems can be very difficult to identify. The occupants of a building experience a range of symptoms without necessarily being aware that they arise from their exposure to pollutants in the building they live in.
Treating the symptoms will not resolve the problem. The answer lies in making changes in the building itself.
If you experience any of the following symptoms you may have a problem with air quality in your home. They could equally arise from some other source but you may want to check that your home is safe.
Air quality problems can result in allergic reactions and asthmatic symptoms. Cold and flu-like symptoms are also common. There could be irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.
Feeling tired, dizzy, or nauseous might be an indication of an air quality problem. Headaches are also an indication of a potential problem too.
Serious Harm
The mild symptoms experienced by most people are annoying and uncomfortable. Air quality is worth improving even if it is only to remove these irritations. It’s as well to know that there are some much more serious consequences of poor air quality to consider.
Poor air quality can lead to heart problems, cancers, and pneumonia in a few cases. It can be dangerous to pregnant women and their infants. Legionnaires disease is a potentially life-threatening illness and it can be contracted by breathing in the mist from air conditioning units and water supplies that contain the bacteria.
Air Quality
Good air quality exists when both the humidity and temperature are comfortable for you and your family. Ventilation is effective and clean air is coming into your home and moving around your home. At the same time, any contaminants are kept to a minimum or safe level.
Too high a temperature or humidity isn’t just uncomfortable for you. It also encourages the growth of mold which has other negative effects. Heat can also promote the release of harmful chemicals from materials in and around your home, including building materials.
Ventilation isn’t just about opening a window. It’s about letting air into your home from outside and letting air from inside your home, out. This exchange of air allows fresh oxygenated air into your home but it also brings other things into your home too. It can bring heat, moisture, and pollutants in with the air.
Ventilation can be assisted by using an air conditioning unit. As well as mechanically moving the air and air conditioning unit can treat the air to improve air quality.
Air Quality Issues
The pollutants that can enter your home include volatile organic compounds. These compounds are emitted from cleaning products, air fresheners, disinfectants, and countless other household products.
Carbon monoxide is another contaminant that can have serious health effects. Furnaces, generators, and motor vehicles can all be sources of carbon monoxide.
Microscopic particles can also be present in the air in your home. When inhaled, these contaminants can be damaging to your lungs and heart. Examples of sources of harmful particles in the air are smoke from cigarettes and fires.
Another pollutant to be aware of is radon. Radon is a major cause of cancer.
Air Quality Testing
Air quality sensors are available and are usually designed to test for a specific pollutant. They are placed around your home and indicate whether the pollutant is at a dangerously high level. Each type of sensor has its specific location requirement so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Professional air quality assessment will test for a variety of air quality issues. This includes any problems within the heating, cooling, and air conditioning system. The report can identify the causes of potential problems.
No air quality test kit could identify that your ductwork is faulty or that the water heating system is producing unwanted humidity and encouraging mold growth. A professional air quality inspection may be the best way to resolve your worries about air quality especially if you have health issues.
Improving Air Quality
Once the source of an air quality problem has been identified, it can be resolved. Air quality improvements could be achieved by fitting an air purifier to your home’s ventilation system or a cabinet air cleaner.
Components can be installed in your system to treat the air for mold. A dehumidifier could reduce condensation and damp which encourages the growth of mold. It can also make your home atmosphere more pleasant to live in.
Air Quality Professionals
Thermacon Services Company, Inc, are heating and cooling experts operating in Texas. Their indoor air quality testing service will provide you with a written report with their professional recommendations to improve air quality in your home.
To talk about your air quality, contact us now.
