When you sense that the quality of your indoor air isn’t as good as it should be, it’s important to find the main source of the problem. So, what are some common sources of poor indoor air quality (IAQ)? How can you manage them?
Our team of professional technicians at Specialized Mechanical are here to answer your questions! Trust us to share some of the most common sources attributing to poor indoor quality inside your home. These include things such as mold growth, building materials and household products.
Causes Of Bad IAQ
Air pollutants may or may not have bad smells. Regardless of smell, contaminants in your air may cause negative health symptoms and even long term health problems. Let’s explore a few causes of poor IAQ.
Exposure To Household Products
If you look at the packaging for your household cleaning items, you will find that a lot of them contain chemicals that aren’t the best to breathe in. Cleaners, disinfectants and pesticides emit gasses into the air that may cause health problems.
Additionally, air fresheners may smell pleasant, but even those products can be harmful to your health if you overdo it! As with many household products, they are typically okay to use — you should just be sure to use them in moderation and be mindful of how much product you’re breathing in.
Building Materials
You may not know it, but even the materials in your own home and workplace play a role in IAQ. A few unsafe chemicals produced by building materials include:
- Lead
- Asbestos
- Formaldehyde
- Volatile Organic Compounds
These chemicals may come from products like paint, wall insulation, certain carpets and chemical off-gassing from pressed wood products. The next time you’re doing a home renovation project, make sure to take into account what your materials are made of.
Tobacco Smoke
Not only does tobacco smoke leave a strong odor, numerous health problems are associated with tobacco smoke. This includes an increased risk of lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory issues.
When it comes to second hand tobacco smoke, there is no safe level of exposure. Getting rid of smoking habits from your home can protect your health and your indoor air quality.
Exposure To Gasses
Anything that burns fuel or is a combustion appliance releases gas into the air, including nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. These items include cooking appliances, gas stoves and fireplaces.
Nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide cause poor indoor IAQ because they are toxic gasses. Humans should avoid inhaling these substances when possible as being exposed to them may lead to severe health issues.
Radon is another gas that can seep into homes. It naturally occurs underground, but can get into the home through cracks in the basement level. Outdoors, radon is generally not a health issue as it disperses rapidly.
Most radon exposure occurs in indoor spaces as the air becomes trapped and people inhale it. A radon inspector is likely needed to detect this gas since it’s odorless and colorless. Breathing in radon increases the risk of lung cancer.
Mold Growth
Not only is mold displeasing to look at, but it can lead to negative health effects as well. Mold can be found in many places of your home where moisture is present, like in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Mold is bad for indoor air quality for a few reasons. Other than having an unpleasant smell, some can be toxic, and the dampness can break down material, increasing particles and dust in the air. Mold spores released into the air can also cause breathing problems and cause more issues to those who have mold allergies or asthma.
It’s best to clean and get rid of any mold found in your place as soon as possible to avoid inhaling it. It can spread quickly if not addressed properly.
Natural Origin Substances
Biological contaminants, or anything that comes from a living creature, can cause health issues due to their impact on air quality. Dander from pets, dust mites, pollen, bacteria and viruses can enter your home through your clothes or pets.
Sometimes there’s no way to avoid this, but you can ensure that your pets stay clean and get washed on a regular basis to reduce the amount of biological contaminants in your house.
Schedule IAQ Testing For Your Home
If you are concerned about the air quality in your home, you can have indoor air quality testing done to determine if you have a serious level of toxic gasses or pollutants in your air.
You can do these yourself by buying an indoor air quality monitor, mold test kits, radon tests and installing a carbon monoxide alarm in your home. You can also reach out to a professional to help provide an accurate assessment of your indoor air’s health.
Schedule Your Indoor Air Quality Services In Carlsbad
Now that we’ve covered the common sources of poor IAQ, consider investing in the improvement of the indoor air quality of your home. Offering services for commercial and residential buildings, our technicians at Specialized Mechanical can handle any problem your HVAC system might be dealing with.
Our indoor air quality services are the best you can find in Carlsbad, so give us a call today!