What Is Indoor Air Quality

You may hear the term “Indoor Air Quality” thrown around a lot in the HVAC industry, but sometimes we don’t really stop to consider what that truly means. Whenever you are considering your home’s Indoor Air Quality, ask yourself this question: Does the air inside your home help keep you healthy and comfortable?

Understanding how indoor air quality affects your health, and the steps you can take to improve your home’s air are critical to helping control the impact of common pollutants and allergens on your safety and comfort. Sometimes these impacts are immediate and easy to recognize, while other times they may take years to manifest. But don’t worry! Clean, healthy air is surprisingly within your reach.

Causes Of Indoor Air Pollutants And Allergens

Our modern homes can have many hidden sources of pollutants, some of which may be in plain sight. Household chemicals, poorly maintained or finished surfaces, even some appliances and home products may contribute to poor indoor air quality and make your house feel a little less like a home. In most instances, pollutants can be grouped into 3 major categories:

Particulates are the dust, hair, pet dander and other debris that we all live with every day. Biological contaminants refers to foreign microbes, bacteria, and mold and pollen that affect our health and well-being, while VOCs are the unfortunate and harmful by-products of our modern way of life. In order to really impact your air quality, every homeowner should try and actively control or eliminate all 3 of these commonly occurring indoor irritants.

Though these pollutants and irritants may have a number of causes, the most common sources are:

  • Tobacco products
  • Pets
  • Gas appliances
  • Products for household cleaning and personal care (air fresheners, hairspray, etc.)
  • Building materials and furnishings (insulation containing asbestos, newly installed flooring)
  • Excessive moisture
  • Excessively dry air
  • Outdoor air pollutants such as pesticides and carbon emissions

How Does Poor Air Quality Affect My Health

Poor air quality can affect your health in two ways: through immediate effects that occur shortly after exposure and long-term effects that build up over time and may not show until years later.

If you suffer from frequent allergies, nosebleeds, and sinus infections, you may have an indoor air quality problem. Frequent bouts of illness, as well as other cold symptoms such as sore throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue may also be early warning signs that something isn’t right in your home. Though in most cases these symptoms may only be temporary, it’s important to pay attention to the timing and circumstances of these relatively minor issues and consult your doctor for possible environmental causes.

There may also be serious long-term effects to prolonged exposure to certain indoor pollutants, particularly VOCs that result from improperly stored or maintained household chemicals and appliances.  These effects may vary in severity and can include asthma, respiratory disease, heart disease and (in some instances) cancer. For these and other reasons, it’s important to follow all chemical and manufacturer warnings and always be mindful of your home air health, even when immediate symptoms are not present.

Protecting Yourself And Your Family

Though every home may be different, there are a few things we can all do to help keep our homes safe. The first and most important is to remove the sources of contaminates whenever possible. Keep those chemicals properly stored, replace or repair leaky appliances, and make sure you follow all manufacturer safety warnings at all times.

After that, your next step should be keeping your home ventilated and finding solutions that address your specific home and air quality needs. That’s where we come in!

At A/C Masters, we offer a variety of solutions for indoor air quality, whether it’s installing a new zoning system to help keep your air fresh or a Patriot UV or Carbon Filtration system to help eliminate pollutants before they circulate throughout your home. We’ve got you covered!

A/C Masters Qualifications

A/C Masters offers an indoor air quality service that not only helps improve the air you breathe in your home, but also offers long-term solutions to ensure your air remains healthy. Our certified technicians are trained to identify and diagnose any indoor air quality issues, as well as provide the best solutions for your particular needs. When it comes to indoor air quality, don’t settle for anything less than the best – choose A/C Masters and breathe a little easier today! Call (757) 527-2292 now to get started.

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With our exceptional expertise and dedication, we are committed to ensuring the comfort and satisfaction of our valued customers across these regions. Trust A/C Masters for all your heating, cooling, and ventilation needs in the Virginia Peninsula!
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