Good air quality is essential to everyday living. When we think of having clean air, what comes to mind is likely the environment and outdoor air quality. However, the air we breathe indoors is just as important.
At first, it might be hard to know the warning signs of unclean air and its causes. Luckily, at Natchez Heating & Cooling, we’ll help you become familiar with indoor air quality and the warning signs of unclean air.
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor air quality refers to the health of the air inside buildings such as homes or businesses. This also relates to the health and comfort of those who are inside breathing the air.
It’s useful to understand what the common indoor pollutants are as this can help us reduce the risk of indoor health concerns in our homes.
Main Causes Of Indoor Air Pollution
Poor indoor air quality is commonly caused by sources that release gasses or particles into the air. Poor ventilation may also increase indoor pollution levels. This is because without proper ventilation, fresh air cannot come inside, and indoor pollutants cannot be transferred out. Additional sources of indoor air pollution include:
- Fuel-burning combustion sources like oil, gas, kerosine and coal
- Building materials like asbestos, wood-pressed furniture and newly installed flooring
- Excess moisture or humidity
- Pollutants such as radon, pesticides, pollen or smoke
The effects that these sources have on your indoor air quality will depend on a variety of factors. These include how hazardous the pollutants are, the quantity of the source and how well-maintained the source is.
Signs Of Unclean Air
Since we can’t see air, it might be hard to tell when there are signs of indoor air pollution. One of the possible signs are negative health effects, including allergies.
There are other signs that your home may have poor air quality. These include moisture condensation on windows or walls, smelly or stuffy air, dirty heating and cooling equipment and places where items become moldy. It’s also beneficial to be on the lookout for signs of outdoor air pollution as these pollutants may find their way inside your home.
Keeping an eye out for signs of air pollutants can help you assess the air quality in your home. By knowing when your IAQ is suffering, you’ll be able to take steps to solve the issue before it gets worse.
Health Effects Of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Unclean air indoors may result in a variety of symptoms including nose and eye irritation, dizziness, sore throat, headache, and fatigue. If exposure to the pollutant is stopped, then these symptoms will usually go away. However, serious illnesses may occur from poor indoor air quality. This includes cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease.
Some symptoms and illnesses may develop quickly from indoor air pollution while others may take years to develop. Every person is different, so the potential effects and severity of pollutants vary from person to person. Protect yourself and your family by taking steps to protect your home’s air.
Ways To Prevent Poor Indoor Air Quality
Since symptoms and potential illnesses can be serious, it is important to take indoor air quality seriously. Maintaining a properly working ventilation system is one way you can help keep air pollutants out of your home.
Natural air ventilation from opening the windows is another way to promote good air quality and level out temperatures indoors. Air cleaners and air purification services may also help improve your IAQ.
When you work with Natchez, we’ll be able to test the quality of your air and determine specific pollutants affecting your home. With this information, we can provide guidance on ways to resolve the problem!
Improve Your Indoor Natchez Indoor Air Quality Today!
At Natchez Heating & Cooling, our team is here to help! We want to ensure your home ventilation and air purification devices are running smoothly, which is why you can count on us for professional and knowledgeable indoor air quality services.
Contact us today to schedule your service!
