Indoor Air Quality Problem?

DATE: October 21, 2015

Do you know whether the air quality inside your home or office is clean, comfortable, and safe or whether the air you breathe is dirty? Research shows that indoor air can be dirtier than the air outside, even in major cities. Research also shows that people on average spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. Learn the signs of an indoor air quality problem and what you can do to protect your health.

Signs Your Home or Business Has an Air Quality Problem

The average home or business has a range of sources that, taken together, drive pollution levels in the home higher than those outside. When your home or business lacks appropriate ventilation, dirty air will not be able to leave the home and harmful emissions and pollutants will not be filtered out of the air. As a result, your family members, employees, or clients are left breathing in dirty air.

In some cases, individuals may experience ear, nose, and throat (ENT) problems that result directly from the poor air quality in the home or office. These include headaches; dizziness; irritation in the ear, nose or throat; asthma; and other problems.

Since people react differently (and some may suffer no ENT problems) it can be difficult to diagnose the problem as one related to air quality.

If an employee experiences a stuffy nose and headaches when they are at work, yet is not congested and suffers few headaches at home, it may signal a problem with the air in the workplace.

If the HVAC system lacks adequate filtration, you may notice a musty or moldy smell or see dust or dirt on components of the heating or cooling system. If condensation or moisture pools on the home’s windows or walls, that’s another sign of poor air quality. If objects (like books) develop mold or mildew, you may have a ventilation.

If a thorough cleaning doesn’t disperse the odor, have your air quality checked.

If your home or office is leaky, you may also experience pollutants outside entering the environment through air leaks. You can check for air leaks around doors and windows yourself or have someone do this for you.

The good news is, we can visit your home or office and perform an indoor air quality assessment, so you can find out how well your home or workplace stacks up.

We can also offer regular maintenance and cleaning services to keep all components of your HVAC system working well so you have peace of mind knowing the air you breathe is clean. An air conditioning or heating tune-up can check the HVAC system, replace filters to ensure that pollutants aren’t entering the home or workplace through air ducts, and can even help you identify what is polluting the air in your home or office.

Contact us to learn more about our air quality services or to schedule a residential or commercial indoor air quality monitoring appointment.

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