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Out of sight out of mind. That’s how the saying goes, right?
Unfortunately, it’s true. Many pay little attention to the quality of the air in their homes. If you can’t see it, then you don’t think about it.
However, poor indoor air quality can lead to numerous problems that will affect the health of your family and your home. With people staying home now more than ever, monitoring home air quality has never been more important.
What is Indoor Air Quality?
In simple terms, indoor air quality refers to how clean the air in your home is. Great indoor air quality is as pure as possible. There are little contaminates and pathogens in the air, allowing your lungs to breathe easily.
Conversely, poor air quality can have allergens, harmful chemicals, dust, and more in it. As that air travels through your home, you’re forced to breathe it constantly. Over time, that can make you sick, leave you feeling more tired, and decrease your productivity.
Why You Should Monitor Home Air Quality
While a little crummy air might not seem like a big deal, the long-term effects it can have on your family and your home are worth addressing.
If you find yourself struggling with concentration, coughing frequently, unable to focus, problems breathing, and more, that could mean that the air quality in your home is poor. If everyone is having these issues, it makes it difficult to live in your own home.
This is an even greater concern on the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions, and those with allergies. Any amount of pathogens in the home can immediately the reactions listed above in these types of people. It’s easy to mistake these symptoms as a cold or light illness.
Most of the time, people don’t show the effects of breathing bad air until weeks or months of prolonged exposure. In severe cases, it can lead to serious illness such as respiratory infections and even cancer. By monitoring your air quality, you will know if it could put your family at risk before it’s too late.
Learn more about the effects of poor air quality at epa.gov.
Causes of Poor Air Quality
You would be surprised how many common items can negatively affect the air quality of your home. Below is a list of potential culprits:
- Mold. Mold is an issue in many ways. Among them is air quality. Mold doesn’t just stay in one place. The spores are distributed through the air and will spread throughout your home. Mold will also damage your home, so it’s important to get any removed ASAP once it’s found.
- Household Cleaners. While household cleaners are great for getting your place looking top notch, they can leave behind chemicals that are harmful when breathed.
- Moisture. If you have a lot of moisture in your home, that outside water will evaporate into the air, bringing any potential hazards with it.
- Pesticides. Many have a fear of bugs. Pesticides come in handy to keeping bugs out of your plants. If you’re not careful, though, the chemicals in those pesticides can travel into your home. Pesticides are toxic to humans, so breathing any residue could lead to serious issues.
How Do You Monitor Home Air Quality?
Monitoring home air quality is simple. You can purchase an air quality monitor that can measure things like humidity, VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) levels, and temperature. Many monitors can also provide you with an AQI or Air Quality Index, which is a handy value that measures how healthy your air is by EPA standards. Some monitors can even monitor carbon monoxide and radon levels, both of which can negatively affect your home’s air quality.
Knowing the numbers won’t fix the problem for you, though. That’s where an air purifier comes in. Air purifiers can filter out pollutants and make it easier to breathe. However, do your research before buying one, as some manufacturers can be dishonest with their labels and promises.
Brief Conclusion
If you have concerns about the air quality in your home, The Basement Doctor is on the job! We have partnered with Honeywell and Aprilaire to ensure that our customers are breathing fresh, healthy air. Contact us today to schedule an air test in your own home.