The quality of the air in your home can play a somewhat considerable role in the state of your health and that of your loved ones. Over the last decade, a growing body of evidence has showed that the air inside your home, office, or building can be even more dangerous than the air you breathe outside.
Since many people spend over 80 percent of their time indoors, inhaling toxic air filled with pollutants for a long period can cause health problems like upper respiratory distress, coughing, sneezing, dizziness, watery eyes, and headaches to mention a few. Identifying the causes of poor air quality can help you eliminate the pollutants and even prevent you and your loved one from being exposed.
Poor Ventilation
All buildings should have the right ventilation system. There should be a complete and proper channel for indoor-outdoor air flow. This way, when the air is brought into the building and circulated, it can be released outside.
When the ventilation in a building is insufficient, the contaminants in the home tend to remain there. But with the proper ventilation system/channels, the consistent flow of air currents means that indoor contaminants will be flushed out.
Contaminated Air from Outside
Depending on where you live, air from the outside can contain foul smells, carbon emissions, pollen, dust and allergens. If your windows are opened, chances are that they will be blown into the house.
Children and pets, too, can track these other contaminants into the home. So, if you live close to or on a main street with lots of vehicular traffic, you might want to find a way to minimize the inflow of unfiltered air into the home. Â
Poor Maintenance of Ventilation and Cooling Systems
A poorly maintained ventilation and cooling system provides a welcoming environment for indoor air pollutants. In fact, it sometimes acts as a conduit for these pollutants.
This is why you must routinely carry out maintenance activities on your ventilation systems. Have a professional HVAC technician give your air conditioner and ventilation system a once-over ahead of every summer. A well-maintained ventilation system is one that not only functions efficiently, but also protects you and your loved ones from exposure to harmful air pollutants in the property.
Excessive Dampness and Humidity
Buildings and properties with high humidity tend to be breeding grounds for mold and pests. These damp conditions can easily be caused by the weather (doubly so in Florida) as well as leaks and damage to your plumbing, insulation, or AC unit.
Combine these with a faulty ventilation system and you have the makings of a major indoor air quality problem. So, check your basements, walls, bathrooms, kitchens and all other water-prone parts of the house for any dampness and leakages. This will help you quickly identify and fix these problems before they get out of hand.
You don’t want to end up lodging in a hotel for a few days during the summer just because you didn’t pay attention to your home.
Construction Activities in the Home
If you’re doing some remodeling or home repairs, these activities can generate dust and dirt in the home. Dust can be so tiny that it can be inhaled. So, be careful of allergens and dust in the home during these periods.
Abundance of Indoor Air Contaminants
Pet dander, insect dander, and dust mites are common in homes or properties where these carriers are in abundance. The best way to tackle them is to frequently groom your pets, periodically disinfect/fumigate the home to kill off the pets, clear the attic and dust/vacuum your furniture, carpets, rugs and beddings. These will help minimize the air contaminants. The installation of an additional air filtration system or UV lights can also help cut down on the number of contaminants circulating in your home.
