The quality of your indoor air is incredibly important – especially if you suffer from conditions like asthma or COPD that already take a toll on your breathing. However, how can you know for sure if the air in your home is making you sick? What follows is a list of some of the symptoms of bad air quality in the home so you can determine whether you need to take additional steps to clean up the air in your own home.
In some cases, you may need a professional’s help, such as if you need your air ducts cleaned, repaired, or replaced, or if you have an issue with your HVAC system. If that’s the case, look no further than Ambient Edge for help. You can reach us anytime, day or night.
Symptoms of Bad Air Quality in the Home
If you have poor air quality in your home, this is something you need to fix immediately. Not only is poor air quality a problem for you, but it also affects every animal and person living with you – and every outsider who comes into your home.
Some of the symptoms typically associated with poor indoor air quality include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Respiratory issues
- Nausea
- Allergies
- Sinus issues
- Skin dryness/irritation
If you regularly suffer from one or more of these conditions, the air quality in your home may be to blame.
Possible Contaminants
There are several possible causes of air pollution that may be present in your home and making you and your family sick.
Some of these possible contaminants may include:
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Tobacco smoke
- Off-gas emissions
- Formaldehyde
Of course, the list is highly subject to vary depending on where you live and the condition of the building you live in. For instance, if you live in an apartment, your air quality can greatly be affected by the people who share a building with you. Whereas, if you live in an older building, the building itself may be making you sick with mold or formaldehyde.
Other Signs of Compromised Air Quality
Perhaps, thankfully, you haven’t gotten sick at all, but you have noticed some things about your home that are…odd, and that have you questioning the purity of your indoor air.
For instance, if you notice there are hot and/or cold spots in your home, this is a sign that air is not flowing as well through these rooms, and therefore there is more of a potential for contaminants in these areas of your home.
If you’ve also noticed some strange sounds coming from your HVAC system, then it may be time to call in a professional to take a look. Especially if you haven’t been keeping up on annual maintenance for your system, you may have a clogged or damaged air vent that desperately needs tending to. People are often surprised by the problems they find that, if left alone any longer, could have had catastrophic consequences for their home and health.
Fixing Poor Indoor Air Quality
There are several ways you can combat poor indoor air quality. For instance, you can do something as simple as open a window (even in the colder months) to allow stagnant air to flow out, and fresh air to flow in. You can also invest in an air purifier or dehumidifier to cut down on allergens and reduce the number of mold spores in damper areas, like your basement or bathroom.
You should never neglect routine maintenance for your HVAC system. Once dirt and dust clog up in your vents, this is a recipe for disaster. Not only are those things bad on their own, but they get a little moisture in there, and then you have a mold problem, too. And when your HVAC system kicks on, it’s blowing all of those pollutants and allergens into the air you breathe that circulates throughout your home.
A preventive maintenance contract is the best way to go when it comes to caring for your HVAC system. The less you have to think about it, the less you have to worry about it. Sign up for a preventive maintenance contract with Ambient Edge, and we’ll check on your system once a year, clean it out, and fix anything minor that needs repairing before the problem gets any worse.
Poor Indoor Air Quality? Ambient Edge Can Help!
No matter whether you have allergies, a chronic condition, or are in perfect health, it is equally important that you ensure you have quality indoor air in your home.
While there are certain things you can do to take matters into your own hands in that regard, sometimes you need an extra hand, and that’s where Ambient Edge comes in. With several decades of HVAC experience, Ambient Edge is proud to provide you with a team of licensed and insured technicians you can trust. Call us today, and let’s work together to get the quality of your indoor air back to what it should be!