Taking a deep breath is calming and infuses your body with oxygen that fuels your energy levels. While air is mostly made up of gases that are safe for your body to inhale, it can also be filled with potential air pollutants.
Identifying the four major indoor air pollutants and finding ways to reduce them in your home or commercial building helps you improve your overall well-being.
Understand How Poor Indoor Air Quality Impacts Your Health
Minor issues with indoor air quality might leave you dealing with physical symptoms such a headaches and sneezing. People who are allergic to common indoor allergens might also experience a stuffy nose, coughing and other respiratory issues. If the building lacks proper ventilation, then it is possible that colds and bacterial illnesses can spread more easily.
In more serious cases, indoor air pollutants can cause severe health problems. For instance, someone who is allergic to mold and mildew could develop asthma symptoms. Meanwhile, certain air pollutants can cause life-threatening reactions. Long-term exposure to toxic gases can eventually contribute to the development of lung cancer or chronic respiratory diseases.
Watch Out for Unsafe Moisture Levels
For ideal air quality, you want to have some moisture in the air. Maintaining proper levels of humidity in your home helps to minimize flying dust and problems with dry skin. Air that is too dry could also irritate your sinus passages and cause airborne allergies to flourish.
However, too much moisture is also hazardous. On top of damaging paint and wallpaper, air with too much humidity can allow mold and mildew to grow. Inhaling spores from these plants can cause asthma symptoms such as wheezing and coughing. Some people may also feel cold or flu-like symptoms, such as body aches and fatigue, in response to airborne allergens such as dust mites that thrive in conditions with high humidity.
Minimize Your Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases that many different types of solids and liquids emit.
Some of the most common sources of VOCs include the following:
- paints and other types of solvents
- cleaners and disinfectants
- aerosol sprays
- air fresheners
- pesticides
- building materials and home furnishings
- stored fuels
You may have heard people use the term “off-gassing” to refer to the ways that new furniture, carpet and other items in the home release VOCs. While the levels of VOCs that enter the air tend to go down over time, it’s important to know that they can be substantially higher indoors than what occurs outside.
Exposure to VOCs can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. Headaches, nausea and allergic skin reactions are also common. If someone is exposed to VOCs in large amounts or for a long period of time, then it is also possible to sustain damage to the kidneys, liver or central nervous system.
Screen for Radon In Your Home or Commercial Building
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that has radioactive properties. While the gas develops naturally through the decay of uranium that is in soil, it is extremely dangerous for humans to breathe in large amounts.
In most cases of exposure, radon slips through cracks in the foundation and lower walls of a house, where it circulates through the air. In homes that are tightly sealed, the radon can build up and cause problems in the future. At first, most people don’t experience symptoms from radon exposure. But, breathing in high levels of this gas can eventually lead to the development of lung cancer.
Since you can’t see or smell the gas, your best bet is to arrange for radon testing. If the test reveals high levels of radon in your home, then you can arrange for mitigation services to reduce the effects on your health.
Beware of Carbon Monoxide Leaks
Every building should have carbon monoxide detectors to catch major leaks that can cause immediate life-threatening symptoms. The most common source of carbon monoxide leaks in buildings is fuel-burning appliances. Making sure to keep appliances such as gas-burning heaters and stoves maintained goes a long way toward preventing leaks.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can include symptoms such as confusion, headaches, nausea and a loss of coordination. Losing consciousness is a possibility if someone breathes in too much carbon monoxide.
If you hear a carbon monoxide alarm go off or suspect a leak, then it is important to exit the building. Leaving doors and windows open as you leave can help disperse the gas. However, you won’t want to go back inside until you’re given the all-clear signal from the local authorities, such as the fire department and gas company.
Explore Your Options for Reducing Indoor Air Pollutants
As frightening as some of the reactions to indoor pollutants are, there are ways to maintain safer air in your home or commercial building. Maintaining your home’s heating and air conditioning system helps to filter out contaminants. Our technicians can show you how to change the air filter in the system regularly for optimum air quality.
For some buildings, it may be necessary to take additional steps to improve air quality. Over time, it’s common for indoor air pollutants to build up in the ductwork of a building. Air duct cleaning can remove pet hair, dander, rodent droppings and other contaminants to stop them from flowing through homes and offices.
We can also offer solutions to increase ventilation in tightly sealed homes. Finding ways to control humidity in your home can also reduce indoor pollutants. When you’re worried about air quality, our team can assess your property’s current environment to create a personalized plan for reducing toxic gases and allergens in your home.
Start Improving Your Indoor Air Quality Today
The air that you breathe plays a vital role in your well-being every minute of the day. Breathing polluted indoor air can also cause lasting health issues such as asthma. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait long to start improving your energy levels and comfort.
Reach out to Miami One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating to find air quality improvement solutions that work best for your needs. As we always like to say, “We’re always on time, or you don’t pay a dime.” With only a quick phone call, you’ll be on your way to enjoying better air quality that infuses your body with greater vitality.
