Indoor Air Quality

The Importance of Indoor Air Quality

Most people are not aware of the importance of general indoor air quality in CT. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on average, Americans spend over 85% of their time indoors. The concentration of pollutants in a home is two to five times higher than the typical pollutant concentrations found outside the home. Here’s what you need to know about indoor air quality and the effects it can have on your health.

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What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality?

It doesn’t take much for indoor air pollutants to change the lives of the people living in the home. If the air quality in your home is bad, you may experience:

• Skin rashes
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Eye, throat, and nose irritation
• Headaches
• Fatigue

If you notice that these symptoms go away once you leave your home, the culprit could be poor indoor air quality.

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Poor indoor air quality can be caused by small air particles, such as dust and dander. This type of harmful air quality can also be caused by large air particles, like pollen. There are other causes of poor indoor air quality.

Tobacco Smoke

Whether it’s smoke from the individual who is smoking or secondhand smoke, tobacco smoke puts tons of pollutants and toxins in the air. This type of smoke can cause respiratory infections, lung cancer, and a variety of other respiratory problems.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide can cause intense sickness or become fatal. This type of air pollution is caused by the incomplete combustion of water heaters, ovens, furnaces, and dryers.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide can be a result of a lack of fresh air in the home. This type of air pollution can affect your cognitive ability, and your ability to focus.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

VOCs come from household products, such as:

• Wood preservatives
• Aerosol sprays
• Hobby supplies
• Pesticide
• Paints and paint strippers
• Cleaners and disinfectants
• Office equipment (printers, copiers, correction fluids, etc.)

The health effects of VOCs can include headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination. You may also experience liver damage and damage to your central nervous system and kidneys. If you have pets, VOCs can cause cancer in animals.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Improving your indoor air quality can drastically improve your overall health. Here’s what you need to do to help improve your indoor air quality.

Replace Your AC Filter

The AC filter cleans the air that heats and cools your home. Once the air is clean, it sends the air into your home. If the AC filter is dirty, small particles can bypass the filter and contaminate the air in your home. Inspect the AC filter every three months. The schedule you should follow for replacing the AC filter depends on the number of people in your home, the size of your home, and the number of pets, if any.

Have Your Air Ducts Inspected

Your HVAC air ducts should be inspected for dust and dirt every three to five years. The dust and dirt that collects can circulate throughout your home, causing different health effects, such as rashes, difficulty breathing, and dizzy spells.

Use Indoor Plants

Certain indoor plants, such as the Chinese Evergreen, English Ivy, and Mother In Law’s Tongue, can help purify your indoor air. These plants make it easier to breathe inside your home or space.

Are you concerned about your indoor air quality? Here at Climate Care, we specialize in air conditioning and heating repair, installation, and maintenance across Norwalk, Greenwich, and Westport, CT. Request your FREE estimate today!