Common Indoor Air Quality Issues and Solutions
Foul odors are the most difficult to resolve because there are numerous causes of odors that occur in a home.
Indoor air quality is essential for a person’s overall well-being. This type of air quality refers to the air quality in any building, including homes. According to the EPA, indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air. As people spend more time indoors than out, that statistic raises concerns about how to positively increase indoor air quality.
There are common indoor air quality issues people experience. This blog highlights three concerns and offers solutions to what people can do to resolve them.
Odors
Foul odors are the most difficult to resolve because there are numerous causes of odors that occur in a home. Some odors are easier to ignore than others but try to pay attention to them because they can indicate a severe underlying issue, such as harmful contaminants that can cause significant problems in the future.
When a homeowner smells strange odors, they should note where the odor is present, describe how it smells, and write down any recent changes they’ve made in their home or business, such as new furniture or carpet installation.
Mold
Mold thrives in dark and damp locations and, in a home or business, causes a musty odor to linger in the air. Mold exposure in any environment can cause a variety of symptoms. There are three levels of mold exposure.
Early exposure (Level 1) mold symptoms include skin redness or rashes and eye irritation. Advanced exposure (Level 2) can cause breathing and nervous system disorders, chronic fatigue, and other health concerns. Long-Term Exposure (Level 3) mold exposure can result in blindness, long-term memory loss, kidney failure, liver disease, and other serious health diseases.
There’s a difference between mold and mildew. Mildew is found on the surface of items and appears white and gray. Mold can grow anywhere. It may have a fuzzy texture or be slimy and can be green or black in appearance. Mold is a type of fungus that’s often the result of a significant infestation.
Although property owners can remove mold from different areas of their homes or businesses using 1/2 cup of bleach and warm water, there are some places they won’t be able to reach. Mold remediation professionals can identify mold throughout a property, resolve the cause, and remove it.
Inadequate fresh air
Inadequate fresh air can make the air in a residential or commercial property feel muggy or “heavy.” A lack of fresh air can create a stale odor in a home, which can stain clothing and other items. Inadequate fresh air can result from carpet fumes from newly installed carpets, air pollution due to household cleaning supplies, poor ventilation, and more.
Property owners can improve the air quality in their buildings by opening windows and allowing fresh air to circulate. They can also improve ventilation and invest in natural air purifiers like salt lamps. Using air fresheners will only mask the smell instead of correcting the issue. Aerosol air fresheners mask the odor and add to indoor air pollution. With air pollution, HVAC system filters have to work harder to purify the air, which leads to frequent replacement of the filters and increased costs.
Indoor air pollutants
Sources of indoor air pollutants can include but are not limited to:
Tobacco products
Fuel-burning combustion appliances
Furnishings and building materials (carpet, flooring, upholstery)
Excess moisture
Outside sources (pesticides, radon, outdoor air pollution)
Second-hand smoke
Pet dander
Indoor air pollution and health
Indoor air pollution has short-term and long-term effects on people’s health. Short-term health effects include nose, throat, and eye irritation, fatigue, and dizziness. For people suffering from lung conditions such as asthma, their symptoms can be more severe than someone who doesn’t have underlying concerns.
Long-term health effects of indoor air pollution include the development of respiratory diseases, cancer, and heart disease. Some of these long-term effects can be debilitating and sometimes fatal. HVAC specialists can help property owners keep their families and employees safe by removing pollutants and allergens from the air.
Ways to reduce indoor air pollution
Improving a building’s indoor air quality improves people’s overall health, so keeping the air in homes or businesses as clean as possible is a good idea. Fortunately, there are steps to reduce indoor air pollution.
Determine which pollutants are present
Before a property owner can clean the air, they must know which pollutants are present. Some pollutants require special removal techniques and a professional’s help to ensure the property is free of them.
Vacuum often
Dust is a primary source of air pollution due to its absorbency properties. Dust absorbs radon, toxic gases, volatile compounds (VOCs), dust mites, and other debris. When homeowners and commercial cleaning service providers vacuum, they should do so slowly to capture the most dust. Vacuum at least twice a week up to four times a week for households with pets or commercial properties with high foot traffic.
Replace the air filters
Dirty or damaged AC or furnace filters are ineffective. A property owner should schedule filter replacements based on manufacturer recommendations for the types of filters used, the property’s size, and if the area is a high-pollution area or if they share their home with pets.
Fiberglass filters are a budget-friendly option that need replacing every 30 days. Pleated air filters are the more expensive option, lasting between three and six months. If residents or employees have underlying health conditions, such as asthma, filters should be replaced more frequently.
Seek help from professionals
Improving a building’s indoor air quality can be more of a challenge than some would expect. Still, professional HVAC technicians can find the cause and advise on the best course for repairs or installations to correct the issue.
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