Many people think about indoor air quality for the health of their family. Having great indoor air quality means that your family can be breathing clean air that doesn’t contain harmful contaminants that may make you sick.
Good indoor air quality also ensures that the air inside your home will be fresh, clean, and safe. In fact,new studies show that indoor air quality may be worse in your home than in your office building, especially with so many people working from home.
Indoor air pollutants are found in every home, and the problem is that they can be difficult to get under control. In this blog, we’ll discuss what you need to know about indoor air quality along with how to measure it and improve it.
What is Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor air quality is the air quality within buildings and structures. Healthy indoor air can have some bad smells, but it is usually not strong or harmful. The air inside a building should be treated like the air outside; it should be fresh, clean and free from harmful chemicals.
However, this is more complicated because we lose natural ventilation by being inside. We must control the air quality inside, which can be a difficult task.
Good indoor air quality is one of the conditions of your quality of life. The air inside your living space is a direct reflection of the air quality outside, with less air exchange, or filtration.
The best way to control indoor air quality is with a good source of quality outdoor air, a good source of outdoor air filters, and good source of indoor air filtration. Meanwhile, keeping elements such as air ducts and the AC blower clean can help immensely.
How do You Measure Indoor Air Quality?
You might worry about indoor air quality, but how do you measure it in the first place?
One of the most important measures is to find out whether there are any contaminants in the air that can make you sick; once you know what’s in the air, you can figure out how to remove it and/or keep it from becoming a problem.
In the home, you can purchase a monitor to detect various byproducts or pollutants in the air. Air-quality specialists are trained to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other irritants.
Is it possible to get an accurate reading of the air quality in your home that’s accurate and easy to understand? The answer is yes. There are a number of low-cost, basic meters that are very easy to use.
Another way is by hiring a professional to do an air quality test. This will help streamline the process while a professional can help explain your results.
How Do You Know if the Measurement is Accurate?
There are a few things that you should watch out for. First of all, make sure that the test is done by a professional who knows what they’re doing and tests for things that are important to you.
An air quality test is only as good as the equipment and the professional conducting it. The first thing to do is ask for references on the company testing your indoor air quality.
Also, the EPA has certain requirements for how the tests are conducted. Laws and regulations about how to test for mold for a client are very strict. Before you hire any professional to conduct a mold assessment or an air quality test, make sure they are certified.
What Affects Indoor Air Quality?
You might be wondering what affects your indoor air quality in the first place, which is a great question. By understanding particles and contaminants in the air, you can work to keep your indoor air quality as clean as possible.
But what are the contaminants that affect indoor air quality?
The particles that affect your indoor air quality can be very small in size, and can even be airborne. The EPA divides airborne particles into two categories:
- One of the most common particles that affect indoor air quality comes from outside. The air you breathe in while you’re outside contains these particles.
- You bring these particles indoors with you, since your body can’t tell the difference between outdoor and indoor particles.
- The second type of particles come from indoor sources.
Particles in the air, such as dust and pollen, can be the greatest influence on the quality of indoor air. These particles are often regarded as allergens, and are especially problematic for individuals suffering from asthma.
Indoor air can contain harmful contaminants like:
- dust
- mold
- pet dander
- mildew
- paint fumes
- pesticides
- pollen
- and much more
Clean air is also affected by contaminants such as chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For example, VOCs are normally found in building materials, cleaners, and glues.
Each of these contaminants affect air quality differently. For example, mold and mildew indoors can cause allergic reactions in some people, and can trigger asthma attacks in others.
What are the Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Do you suspect that you have poor air quality in your home?? There are several signs you may recognize if this is a problem that you’re facing.
- If you notice that there is a smell of mildew in your home, you may have a sign that there is poor air quality
- Do you have dizzy spells or difficulty breathing? This may be a sign that there is poor air quality
- Some people that have low quality indoor air also experience headaches or a runny nose
Additional symptoms that you may experience when you’re living in a home where you have poor indoor air quality include:
- asthma attacks
- sinus problems
- a feeling of fatigue
- headaches or migraines
- rash or hives
How Can I Tell if I Have a Mold Problem?
One of the most worrisome components of poor indoor air quality is mold. If you think you have mold growth, the first thing you need to do is to go to your local health department and get them to take a look at your home.
They will then use their mold detection kit and check to see what the level of mold is in your home. If the mold is in your home and is coming from a source within your home, they will then advise you to get my company out there to take a look at it.
If you are concerned about the mold levels, you can call in a mold testing lab as well as contact your local fire department, who will also send a professional to check your home.
Meanwhile, these are some of the signs that you may have a mold problem in your home:
- Musty or moldy odors, especially around water sources such as a leaking roof or plumbing pipes
- Visible mold growth. The more visible mold, the more likely it’s a current problem and not just a lingering issue from some time ago
- You see mold anywhere in your home. Mold appears on hard, nonporous surfaces in your home.
- Certain rooms in your home are always damp.
- You can smell mold in an area of your home.
- You feel sick when you are in a certain part of your home.
How to Improve the Quality of Your Hair
By now, you’re likely wanting to know how you can make improvements to your indoor air. The good news is that there are several ways to improve the quality of air in your home. Here are some of our top ideas:
- Use plants – Balance and purify air quality by introducing plants into your home. Plants help to remove chemicals, odors, and toxins from the air. They also loosen small particles from the air and cause them to fall to the ground. We recommend adding plants to your home, especially to your living room.
- Air filters – The first and easiest way to improve air quality is to install and replace air filters in your home. You can install these in your furnace or air vents and this will help prevent air from flowing through the vents with all of the dust, dirt, and chemicals from outside. This will filter out these elements and prevent them from making their way inside your home.
- Dehumidifier – Another way to control the air quality and humidity levels in your home is to use a dehumidifier. This device can help you improve the air quality in your home, which will enhance your sleep quality and make it more difficult for mold and mildew to grow.
- Clean your air ducts – Are you dealing with dirty and contaminated air ducts? Air duct cleaning services can help improve indoor air quality. Duct cleaning services use special equipment to remove dust and debris from your ductwork and supply registers. This can cut down on annual allergy problems and help keep your home or business’s ventilation system working at optimal efficiency.
- AC Blower Housing Cleaning – Not many homeowners think about AC blower housing cleaning as a solution to help indoor air quality. However, the truth is that this cuts down on the spread of dust, allergens and debris in your home.
Get that Fresh-Air Feeling Indoors with Breath E-Z
Are you ready to get that fresh-air feeling inside your home? Breath E-Z can help.Our AC blower housing cleaning and air duct cleaning services can make a difference with the indoor air quality inside your home. Contact us today to learn more.