As soon as you wake up, you sneeze. You feel groggy, and you may have trouble breathing. Other residents of your home may experience similar symptoms.
You can’t help but wonder why you’re battling these health issues. The truth is that the quality of your home’s air may be the culprit. Research shows that, in many cases, the amount of air pollution indoors can be several times higher than that of outdoor air pollution.
Poor air quality can have many negative effects on your health and the health of your family. Here’s an overview of common home air pollutants and the health effects of bad air quality.
Let’s get started!
What Causes Bad Air Quality in the Home
Poor home air quality has many potential causes, including the following:
- Poor HVAC system performance, which can result in poor particulate reduction
- Dirty or old HVAC filters
- Dust buildup in your home
- Pet dander buildup in your home
- Stuffy air due to keeping your windows closed, especially during winter
Other pollutants to watch out for include tobacco smoke as well as gases and chemicals released from spray fresheners and household cleaners.
Note that some insulation or building materials may also be hazardous to your health. Likewise, pesticides and radon may leave behind residue that impacts home air quality.
Potential Health Effects of Bad Indoor Air Quality
Bad air quality can affect you and your family’s health in several ways. It can worsen your allergies and cause you to sneeze and cough more frequently. Additionally, you may notice your eyes watering more than usual.
With bad air quality, you have a higher likelihood of contracting illnesses. You may also notice your asthma symptoms worsen, making it harder to breathe. Other signs of bad air quality are rashes, cracked and dry skin, headaches, and dizziness.
As a general rule of thumb, children are most susceptible to the adverse health impacts of poor indoor air quality. This is because their bodies are still going through the development process. Also, children don’t process toxins as easily as adults do.
How to Avoid Negative Health Effects
There are a few easy steps you can take to avoid the negative health effects of poor indoor air quality:
- Replace dirty or old HVAC filters in your home.
- Invest in a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain a healthy level of moisture in the air.
- Clean up any excessive buildup of dust in your home, especially near air vents.
- Contact an HVAC contractor for a system checkup and preventative maintenance
How We Can Help
At RSC Heating & Air Conditioning, we provide high-quality indoor air quality services. Our NATE certified HVAC technicians have years of experience helping homeowners with their home air quality issues. During a service call, a member of our team will help you understand how often you should replace your HVAC filters, clean your heating and cooling system, and test the system’s overall effectiveness.
To learn more about how RSC can help with your home air quality, or to schedule a service call, contact us today or call (717) 299-3914.
