Modern HVAC systems use heating and air conditioning to keep you comfortable, but they also ventilate, filter out harmful airborne particles, and dehumidify your home’s air supply. You’re probably familiar with the problem of outdoor air pollution and the effect it can have on your health. However, indoor air pollution is just as hazardous, even more so due to the amount of time a family spends indoors. Be aware of the following signs to determine whether the air quality in your home needs to be addressed:
Asthma or Allergy Flare Ups
Breathing in biological contaminants like mold and pollen will cause flare ups in asthma sufferers and those that typically suffer during allergy season. Others may feel like they’re coming down with a cold—coughing, sneezing, dizziness, rashes, and upper respiratory congestion—making it difficult to differentiate indoor pollutant-caused illness from regular infections.
Musty Odors
A house with high humidity and moisture levels is susceptible to mold and mildew. Molds can grow on anything if given enough moisture and oxygen, and they release harmful spores into the air. Breathing air containing high concentrations of mold spores can cause a plethora of adverse health effects. With its musty and earthy odor, you’ll smell mold before you see it, but still keep a lookout for cottony, dark growths in areas that typically collect the most moisture, such as the bathroom.
Immediate Irritation
One of the best signs that your home has poor indoor air quality is if you suffer localized symptoms. Breathing in harmful particles irritates your upper respiratory system almost immediately. If you feel better after leaving a particular room or the house itself, and symptoms flare up after reentering, then you’ll know that you have indoor air pollution.
A fully functioning HVAC system with an air cleaner component filters and ventilates the dust, microorganisms, gas, and toxic chemicals that accumulate in your home. Call Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning at (301) 900-5559 for more information on our expert installation of air purifiers and dehumidifiers. We’ve been providing superior service to the Gaithersburg, MD area since 1982.