For a country that loves the great outdoors, we sure spend a lot of time indoors. Unfortunately, the demands of work, school, and life mean that most Americans spend 90% of their time enclosed by four walls. The problem is that you could be breathing in many invisible pollutants while believing that your air is clean.
In some places, the indoor air quality is much lower than that of the air outside. To protect your health and that of your family, it’s important to improve indoor air quality.
Join us as we explore the link between indoor air quality and health and see how Bellaire, TX, AC companies can help.
Indoor Air Quality 101
Indoor air quality refers to the condition of the air we breathe at home, work, school, and other indoor environments. We may think that the air we breathe is regularly exchanged with fresh air from outdoors. But in fact, it may be relatively stagnant and home to lots of nasty pollutants.
Smoke
Whether we can see it or not, we’re constantly surrounded by emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and tobacco. If someone in the house smokes, the smoke can cause health complications for others.
According to the CDC, secondhand smoke contains around 7,000 chemicals. About 70 of them can cause cancer. In addition, the smoke hangs around in the air for a considerable period of time after each cigarette is smoked.
Carbon Monoxide
Our furnaces can also cause problems with indoor air quality. It’s important to have your furnace serviced regularly and call out an HVAC company immediately if you need furnace repair. If they are not working correctly, they can emit carbon monoxide (CO).
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and deadly. Every home should have a CO monitor to alert homeowners to any increases in the level of carbon monoxide in the air. If your furnace is leaking this deadly gas, it’s time to get a free furnace estimate and install a safer model.
Pet Dander
Many of us can’t live without our furry friends, but they can also aggravate allergies and reduce indoor air quality. When some people breathe in pet dander, it causes allergic reactions. HVAC air filters can help to remove these particles from the air, and it’s important to change them regularly.
Mold
Winters in Houston, TX, are generally mild and dry. But if you do not control the indoor humidity in your home, mold can start to develop. Mold loves warmth and moisture, and it can sometimes find these conditions in poorly maintained HVAC systems.
Heating and cooling maintenance are essential. It can keep the indoor temperature and humidity at comfortable levels.
Relative indoor humidity of 60% or higher will encourage mold to grow in your home. Scheduling regular AC tune-ups can keep these problems at bay.
Health Impacts of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Poor indoor air quality can affect everyone, not just people who suffer from allergies. If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to be aware of its impact and what you can do about it.
Allergic Reactions
Pet dander is an inescapable fact when you have cats and dogs in your home. But if anyone in the household has an allergy to pets, they may experience the following:
- Wheezing
- Breathing difficulties
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes
- Runny nose
- Cough
If your HVAC system is not regularly serviced, you could develop a problem with mold. Mold loves warm, humid conditions. It’s easy for mold to build up in your ductwork and then get blown around the house.
Not everyone is sensitive to mold. But at its worst, mold can cause severe reactions, such as fever and breathing difficulties. A study by the Institute of Medicine shed light on this.
The study found a link between indoor exposure to mold and the following conditions in otherwise healthy people:
- Upper respiratory tract problems
- Cough
- Wheezing
Concentration Problems
A report published by the EPA suggested a link between poor indoor air quality and student performance. Naturally, student performance is affected by missing school through sickness. Poor air quality can also cause concentration, calculation, and memory difficulties.
Fatal Conditions
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer. If levels become elevated for a short period in your home, it can lead to death. It’s very important to keep your furnace well-serviced and have a working carbon monoxide monitor in place at all times.
Who Is at Risk?
Some people are at a higher risk of being affected by poor indoor air quality than others. This includes:
- Elderly people
- Very young children
- Those with cardiovascular or respiratory problems
These groups of people also tend to spend more time indoors.
How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
The good news is that improving your air quality doesn’t mean moving to another part of the state! All you need to do is follow a few simple steps.
- Regularly change your AC filters
- Schedule regular heating and cooling maintenance, including air duct checks
- Clean evaporator coils, which can attract pests and develop mold
- Consider a UV lamp
- Install an air humidifier
A UV lamp is able to kill living biological organisms in your home. This makes the air cleaner and safer to breathe.
An air humidifier is great in the dry Texas climate. It can help keep the humidity in your home at a safe and comfortable level.
Time to Improve Your Air Quality
You don’t have to suffer the effects of poor indoor air quality any longer. AC companies can help you to remove the pollutants from your air so you can breathe easily in your own home.
If you’re looking for heating and cooling near me in Bellaire, TX, look no further than P&M HVAC. We have 75 years of experience in keeping the people of the greater Houston area comfortable and safe in their homes.
Our air quality services can remove mold and bacteria from your air and stop them from coming back. Call us at 713-588-6249 or reach out online today to schedule a visit.