Could the Air Inside Your Home Be More Dangerous Than the Air Outside?

mold on walls

We’ve all seen the pictures on the evening news of smog clouds hanging over the city. We might shake our heads and be glad to be indoors. Unfortunately, though, the air quality inside your home could be just as bad–or even worse–than the air outside. It’s something that many homeowners don’t know about, and it could be having a lasting impact on their health.

Our HVAC team in Loveland knows the importance of good indoor air quality. We’ve been helping customers in the Northern Colorado area improve the air in their homes since 1997, educating them on what’s making their indoor air quality poor and how to improve it without spending a fortune.

Could Your Indoor Air Quality Be Impacting Your Health?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, poor air quality inside your home could pose some significant health risks. Some of the more immediate effects might look a lot like allergy symptoms and can include:

  • Itchy eyes
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Running nose
  • Sore throat

Long-term exposure to poor air quality can increase your risk of heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and even cancer.

What Contributes to Poor Air Quality

Most of us know what’s contribution to the poor air quality outdoors; it’s usually a combination of dirt, smog, and industrial pollution. But what’s causing the problem inside? It’s a combination of a lot of things.

  • Not maintaining your HVAC system. Dirt, dust, and allergens can build up in your system if they aren’t regularly cleaned and maintained.
  • Poor ventilation in the home. You want your home to be well sealed, but it also needs to be ventilated in the right places. That allows fresh air to circulate into your home.
  • Cleaning products. Some cleaning products can give off dangerous fumes that can linger in the air for longer than you’d expect.
  • Fumes from carpets and furniture. New carpets and furniture are treated with chemicals that help preserve their color and texture, but those chemicals can leak into your air and make it unhealthy to breathe.
  • Mold and mildew. If you have damp areas in your home that have started to mold, then it could be getting into your air, as well, and decreasing the quality of your air.

What You Can Do to Improve Your Air Quality

If you suspect that your indoor air quality could be suffering, there are a number of things you can do that can have a big improvement.

  • Get your HVAC system maintenanced. A qualified technician will be able to clean your system and remove build-ups of dirt, dust, and allergens.
  • Change your air filters. Your filters work hard to clean the air in your home, but you need to change them regularly. Once every three months on average, but more often if you have pets or outdoor allergies.
  • Open your windows occasionally. Allow some fresh air to circulate into your home by cracking a window or door for a little while.

Need More Help With Indoor Air Quality?

Our HVAC team has the solutions that you need. From maintenance to upgrading your current air filtering system, we can help. Get in touch with us to learn more about all of our services and how we can bring cleaner, fresher air to your home.

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