Indoor Air Quality Facts and How it Affects You

Your home is your safe haven, it’s the place where you spend the most time (outside of work) and even more so now with the rise of the coronavirus. You are supposed to feel comfortable and safe at home, not on edge about the quality of the air you’re breathing. Did you know that some buildings’ indoor air quality can be 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside? Poor indoor air quality can cause and/or contribute to the development of different infections and even some chronic diseases. The good news is that you can improve your indoor air quality and improve your overall health and well-being along with it.

Indoor Air Quality Facts and How it Affects You

The health effects of poor indoor air quality (IAQ for short) can range from short-term symptoms that go away as soon as the affected person is removed from the current environment to long-term health issues that could even result in chronic disease. Some of the most common symptoms of poor indoor air quality can easily be mistaken for allergies, stress, and a cold for example. Exposure to poor IAQ can result in the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Sneezing
• Rashes
• Dizziness
• Eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation
• Fatigue
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Congestion

Severe Cases Include:

• Nausea/Vomiting
• Worsening asthma
• Lung cancer
• Painful breathing
• Respiratory disease

As you can see, the symptoms vary greatly just like the IAQ in each home will vary. Some people are most sensitive than others, so not all of your family members or even your coworkers will be affected the same way/show the same symptoms.

What You Can Do To Improve Your IAQ

Humidity Control – Too much moisture in your home allows various bacteria and contaminants to thrive in your home, especially mold. With the humidity here in Charlotte, North Carolina, it is extremely important to be aware of the humidity levels in your home. Investing in a humidifier can help you get rid of excessive moisture and condensation.

Air Duct Cleaning – Tons of air pollutants accumulate and build up in your air ducts. Regular and thorough cleaning is extremely important when it comes to keeping the air in your home fresh.

Clean Air Filters – Finally, regularly changing your air filters is one of the simplest and easiest ways to improve your IAQ. Your air filters trap pollutants in your HVAC system so they aren’t floating throughout your home. When they become too dirty, they become less effective at trapping these contaminants and can even decrease the efficiency of your HVAC system.

If you’re looking to improve the indoor air quality of your greater Charlotte, North Carolina home, have a Charlotte heating and air company a call.  Give AirWorks Cooling & Heating a call today!