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Comfortable Home

How Do I Know if I Have Indoor Quality Issues?

Homeowners have heard about indoor air quality for years. You might be wondering what it's all about. Indoor air quality is about the amount of pollutants and contaminants in your air. We bring contaminants inside on our clothing, shoes, skin, and hair. It then circulates throughout the house via the heating and cooling system. This is the basis of poor indoor air quality.

What Are Some Signs Of Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Our homes are carriers of pathogens because the HVAC system circulates them. You'll know the indoor air quality isn't quite up to par if you notice the following signs.

  • Gas appliances are not vented to the outside or serviced on a regular schedule.
  • You have to test your home for radon. Radon is a natural by-product of decaying uranium deep underground. It rises through the ground and into the air, water, and any buildings in its way. It's colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills more people than cigarette smoking.
  • You use chemicals in or near your home. Pesticides, paint and paint thinner, air fresheners, and household cleaners are all common. They circulate through your home in the heating and cooling system.
  • Leaks and standing water are around your house. This means mold and mildew. Check the house for these and have a professional remove them.
  • If you've remodeled or bought new furniture, that can cause indoor air quality issues. Carpet, flooring glue, furnishings, and paint can release chemicals in the air. These all give your home poor indoor air quality.

How Does This Affect Homeowners?

Poor indoor air quality has an effect on all living things in a structure. Poor sleep, mood swings, heart issues, and body pain are serious side effects. Itchy, watery eyes, coughs, and trouble breathing are the common side effects. Some symptoms resemble other health conditions and diseases. Doctors might have a difficult time diagnosing the symptoms to air quality. Homeowners should contact an HVAC professional if you notice these symptoms. This could be a sign of poor air quality.

What's The Solution?

Have an HVAC professional perform maintenance on your HVAC unit twice a year on a regular basis. You should have maintenance done once in the spring and once in the fall. Keep the parts in the unit in best condition. It keeps the air circulating in the house clean.

Buy HEPA or pleated filters and change them every three months. These catch more contaminants than fiberglass filters. They are a little more expensive. They will save money over time.

This is what indoor air quality, good or poor, is all about. Homeowners should contact Harwich Port Heating and Cooling. If you have symptoms of bad indoor air quality, reach out to us. We can assess your indoor air quality and fix the problems for you.