We all experience being sick at particular places and nowhere else. Have you wondered why it is so? Why do you get a stuffy nose feeling or develop some allergy only when you are at home? Maybe you haven’t dusted it in a while, or your house isn’t as clean as before. The truth is you have a high possibility of your building itself being sick. Now, the only way to ensure that is by having your indoor air quality (IAQ) tested.
IAQ problems are often the resultants of the indoor environment (excessive humidity, poor air circulation, ventilation systems, inadequate temperature), air contaminants (chemicals, dust, bacteria, odors, fungus), or insufficient outdoor air intake.
Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Your compromised indoor air quality can mimic the health effects similar to common cold and influenza. By breathing in poor indoor air for an extended time, you can experience one or more of the below-listed things:
- Coughing or Difficulty Breathing. The concentration of pollutants and lack of air circulation can make you struggle with respiratory issues.
- Allergic Reactions. Watery eyes, throat irritation, and sneezing are common allergic reactions displayed due to the infectious contaminants in the air.
- Headaches and Nausea. If you get headaches and feelings of nausea quite often, it could be the polluted indoor air causing them.
- Dust Buildup. If you see a lot of dust building up in your air filters and vents, that signals an increased amount of contaminants in your home.
- Unpleasant Odor. Pollen and mold are the culprits for stale and musty odors in your home. Another issue is poor air circulation – the ordinary smells stay longer than usual.
Benefits of Indoor Air Quality Assessment
Maintaining a healthy house is essential for everyone’s safety. Your family and kids deserve the best place, and here are the benefits of you assessing the indoor air quality on time:
- Lesser Health Problems. Professional air quality testing helps determine any mold formation or rising monoxide levels inside way before they worsen, thereby safeguarding your well-being.
- Reduced Odors. Having the air quality tested allows you to catch hold of dirt buildup and lack of ventilation in your home, so it no longer remains an issue.
- Lower energy costs. Air quality testing brings your HVAC-related issues and blocked air vents into the limelight, hence giving you a chance to reduce your energy bills.
- Better Productivity. With great health, you can combat diseases and infections easily. There are significantly fewer sick days, and your body performs to its optimal level.
- Improved Comfort. Getting rid of particles such as spores and residue enhances the air quality and, in turn, your comfort and health.
Steps for Indoor Air Quality Evaluation
It is not possible to control the pollution outside, but there are some steps you can take to improve the air quality inside. Following are a few things you can resort to making the job easier:
- Buy an Air Quality Monitor. It is cost-effective and accurately monitors humidity, temperature, air quality index, and more.
- Watch Out Health Symptoms. Keep track of your health symptoms for a couple of days to get many clues. Pay attention to a scratchy throat, nausea, confusion, etc.
- Monitor Carbon Monoxide and Radon Levels. Both of these are odorless, colorless gases that are silent killers, so use carbon monoxide detectors to keep everyone safe.
- Call a Professional. If you cannot identify the exact problem but notice a few black or grey spots here and there, get in touch with a mold inspection specialist to look into the situation.