Clean indoor air contributes to a comfortable home and your overall well-being. Our capable HVAC specialists in Phenix City, AL can service air conditioning and heating systems, filters, vents and ductwork to help keep your air fresh. Here’s how you can recognize and mitigate signs of indoor air pollution to make breathing easy this season.
1. Indoor Particulate Matter
Cooking, using space heaters and letting in polluted outdoor air can increase the amount of airborne particulate matter in your home. Exposure to high levels of inhalable particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Changing your air filters, installing exhaust fans and cleaning your ducts can help reduce the concentration of particles in your air.
2. Fungal Contamination
Damp surfaces, wet materials and humid air can contribute to the growth of fungus in your house. These organisms frequently produce spores, allergens, and mycotoxins that can irritate your skin, respiratory system and mucous membranes.
Keeping your house clean and dry, sealing off leaks and improving air circulation can help prevent these spores from traveling through the air. Fungal contaminants can damage your health and negatively impact the value of your home. Eliminating spores and allergens from your home with our Global Plasma system in your HVAC will improve your indoor air quality and make it easier to breathe.
3. Volatile Organic Compounds
Common household products like paint, varnish, cleaning supplies, and hairspray can release chemicals called volatile organic compounds into the air. These gases can contribute to ailments like headaches, dizziness and eye irritation, plus kidney, liver and nervous system damage.
To keep VOCs out of your air, switch to low- or no-VOC products. Hiring our professional HVAC technicians to install or maintain your ventilation system can help make your indoor air cleaner.
4. Harmful Gases
Gas-powered furnaces and boilers can produce carbon monoxide as their fuel burns. Inhaling this odorless, toxic gas can be deadly. Testing your CO alarms and hiring an expert to inspect your gas lines, burner and heat exchanger for damage can help you keep your home’s inhabitants safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.
5. Pollen, Pet Dander and Dust
When air passes through your ductwork, it can blow pollen, pet dander, dust, and dirt through your vents and into your house. These pollutants can provoke and worsen allergies and respiratory conditions like asthma. Our experienced HVAC technicians can install an air purification system that will help you breathe freely.
6. Smoke from Combustion
Fireplaces, wood stoves, gas stoves, kerosene heaters and cigarettes can release hazardous particles, chemicals and gases into the air during the combustion process. The smoke that contains these pollutants can damage the heart and lungs and contribute to serious health problems like inflammation and cancer. If you have dirty air filters or poor ventilation in your home, your indoor air quality is likely to suffer.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Tightly sealed homes can trap airborne contaminants indoors. You can reduce the level of dangerous compounds in your air by keeping your HVAC system maintained.
7. Biological Contaminants
When bacteria, viruses, dust mites and insect droppings become airborne, they can make people more susceptible to inflammation, respiratory illnesses and allergic reactions. Sanitizing your home and keeping its relative humidity level below 50% can reduce the presence of these contaminants and inhibit their growth. Our HVAC specialists can install advanced filtration systems and clean your vents to minimize the presence of these pollutants.
The experts at Sensigreen Heating, Cooling & Insulation can inspect your ductwork, install air purifiers and get your ventilation systems ready for the warm weather ahead. Reach out today to schedule spring maintenance for your HVAC system so you can enjoy breathing in pure, healthy air all season long.
Image provided by iStock
