Why You Should Care About Your Indoor Air Quality

When you think about pollution, you most likely think of metropolitan areas covered in layers of smog. Outdoor air pollution is undoubtedly a top cause of environmental concern these days, but the air you’re breathing inside your home should concern you more.
Why? Because inside air can be significantly more polluted than outside air. The good news is that you can take actionable steps to improve your air quality.
Here’s how:

7 Reasons You Should Care About the Quality of Your Indoor Air

Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the cleanliness and healthfulness of the air in any building, including your home. When your home’s IAQ is low, it may result in fundamental and visible problems for you and your family. Here are a few reasons why improving the air you breathe should be your priority.

1. A single exposure to indoor air pollutants can cause uncomfortable symptoms. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to low-quality indoor air can lead to painful symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea, and headaches. Getting out of this environment should ease these symptoms quickly.
2. Small particles can quickly enter your lungs and move into your bloodstream. Understanding how harmful tiny particles floating through the air may be to your health is easy once you realize they can reside in your lungs in only a few breaths. Some microscopic particles may even filter into your bloodstream from your lungs, which can travel to nearly any organ in your body.
3. Long-term exposure can lead to chronic disease. The EPA also notes several major diseases that could occur following long-term exposure to certain indoor air pollutants. If you do nothing to improve the air quality of your home over the years, you could be at risk of chronic lung disease, heart disease, and even cancer.
4. Indoor air pollution leads to numerous yearly deaths. These chronic diseases can lead to death if they are not treated appropriately and if steps are not taken to mitigate indoor air quality. The World Health Organization states that 4.3 million people around the world die every year as a direct result of exposure to indoor air pollutants in their homes. Most of these people die from stroke, heart disease, and lung disease.
5. Pollutants can increase allergies and asthma attacks. While the long-term consequences of lung disease are undoubtedly notable, you may be more concerned about the health of family members who have allergies or asthma. Pollutants increase the risk of asthma attacks in many.
6. Your HVAC system easily moves pollutants and allergens around your house. Indoor air pollutants may come from many sources, but they can all be moved from room to room by your home’s HVAC system, leading to increased symptoms.
7. Removing the source of pollution can immediately help you feel better. While the negative consequences of poor ventilation can immediately be seen in some individuals, the benefits of cleaning up your indoor air may be just as notable.

4 Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality

If you are concerned about indoor air quality, there are some easy steps you can take to improve the air you breathe every day.

1. Install a vent over your cooking area. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends installing a vent over your cooking surfaces to vent pollutants from that room directly into the outdoors.
2. Change your HVAC filter regularly. Changing your filter every month or whenever it is visibly dirty can stop many pollutants from floating through your home. This one simple step will also improve your comfort and the performance of your HVAC system. To help you remember to replace your filter regularly, sign up for our filter-delivery service. You’ll receive a high-quality filter every month, and we’ll even remind you via text message when to change out your old one.
3. Invest in professional indoor air quality services. A professional, such as ACS Home Services, can analyze the quality of your indoor air and provide a viable solution, such as an in-home air filtration system or a UV sanitation system for your HVAC unit. You might also consider scheduling a professional duct cleaning with us. Dust, debris, and mold build up within your ducts, and these contaminants are then released into the air every time your AC kicks on. If you dust yourself more frequently or notice a musty odor from your HVAC unit, your system may be due for a duct cleaning.

The bottom Line

Although the thought of significant pollution in your home can feel scary, let it inspire you to take steps now to make your home’s air safe and clean. Whether you select a few DIY solutions or opt for professional help, improving the quality of your home’s air can enhance your health for years.
We offer professional indoor air quality and other HVAC services at the following locations:

• Tampa air conditioning
• Clearwater air conditioning
• Sarasota air conditioning
• Brandon air conditioning
• Carrollwood air conditioning
• Land O’ Lakes air conditioning
• St. Petersburg air conditioning
• Town ‘n’ Country air conditioning
• Wesley Chapel air conditioning

Looking for help in Colorado? Check out our friends over at Smith Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical at one of their locations below:

• Colorado Springs plumbing, AC, and electrical
• Castle Rock plumbing, AC, and electrical
• Fountain plumbing, AC, and electrical
• Monument plumbing, AC, and electrical
• Pueblo plumbing, AC, and electrical