A home is meant to be a place where you can breathe easy– literally. However, when your home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it can have negative effects on your health. In extreme cases, poor air quality can even make it dangerous to be at home.
At Specialized Mechanical, we care about the Carlsbad indoor air quality because we care about the people it affects. If you think your home’s air quality might be subpar, consider the signs of poor indoor air quality and the actions you can take to purify your home’s air.
Respiratory Illness
One of the most serious symptoms of poor indoor air quality is respiratory illness. This can come from prolonged exposure to indoor air pollutants. As these pollutants linger in your home, they can enter your airways and cause inflammation in your respiratory system. If your home is being infiltrated by pollutants, you may experience symptoms such as a lingering cough, congestion or shortness of breath.
If you or your family experiences frequent cold and flu symptoms, this may be indicative of poor home air quality. For the health of you and your loved ones, it’s important to address causes of poor indoor air quality quickly.
Headaches And Nausea
When your home’s air quality is poor, you may experience frequent, lingering headaches. Having a headache is never fun– especially when the one place that you go to rest and recuperate (your home) is the very place that is causing the headache!
In addition to a headache, you may also experience nausea when your home’s IAQ is bad. Nausea caused by air pollutants can occur by itself, or it can accompany a bad headache.
Allergy Symptoms
If your home has poor air quality, you may notice allergy-like symptoms. This can be seen in several ways such as:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Itchy/watery eyes
- Sore throat
Seasonal allergies cause many of the same symptoms as reactions to poor air quality, but if you are experiencing allergy symptoms year-round, they could be caused by indoor air pollutants.
Poor air quality can also cause external reactions, such as rashes and other skin irritation. If your skin is excessively dry or itchy, it could be because pollutants that are in your home’s air have latched onto your skin, leading to irritation.
Excessive Dust Build-Up
All homes get dusty, especially in hard-to-clean areas. However, if your vents and air filter seems to be collecting excessive amounts of dust, you may have a problem with home pollutants. Dust can lead to allergies and make it hard to breathe.
How To Have Clean Air Indoors
If your home’s IAQ is impacting you or your family negatively, it’s time to do something about it. To purify your home’s air, you’ll first need to determine what is causing the air quality to be so detrimental.
Some common causes of poor IAQ are:
- Dust
- Mold
- Pesticides
- Chemicals
The first thing you should do to improve your IAQ is replace your home’s air filter. The air filter on your HVAC unit is what all the air in your home is circulated through. If it’s dirty, the air you breathe will also be dirty. Routinely replacing your HVAC air filter is part of good HVAC maintenance. This is fairly simple to do on your own, but you can also hire an HVAC professional to do the job.
Another way you can treat poor IAQ is to look for signs of mold in your home. One of the most obvious signs of mold is the presence of dark spots or stains on your carpet or walls. Another sign is the presence of black, fuzzy patches on your air filter. Once this cause is identified, you’ll be able to take steps to have it removed.
Schedule Professional Air Quality Services
The best way to treat your home’s poor IAQ is to schedule professional HVAC services. Our experts at Specialized Mechanical have the professional knowledge you need to get your home’s air quality under control. We can even provide a variety of other air conditioning services for your home. Whether you need indoor air quality services, a professional AC repair or routine maintenance, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
