Importance of Indoor Air Quality

March 24, 2017

Your home is your haven. The last thing you want is polluted indoor air that hurts your health. Yet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns us that indoor air can be much more polluted than outdoor air, even in large, industrialized cities. You spend most of your time inside, so improving indoor air quality (IAQ) in your Metropolis home should be a top priority.

How Does Indoor Air Pollution Impact Health?

Indoor air pollution can cause everything from super-sensitive eyes to heart disease. It can worsen allergies and asthma. Because of its cancer-causing potential, federal scientists now consider it the most important environmental problem in the U.S. Symptoms include:

Dry, scratchy throat
Chronic cough
Respiratory problems
Exhaustion and lethargy
Headaches
Dizziness and nausea
Stinging, watery eyes
Congestion
Nosebleeds
Skin rashes
Muscular pain
Hearing loss
Anorexia
Heart disease
Cancer

What Causes Polluted Indoor Air?

Tightly-sealed buildings are largely responsible for today’s epidemic of poor IAQ. Sealed buildings conserve energy; they keep heated and cooled air from escaping through leaks. However, the lack of ventilation allows airborne contaminants to build to dangerous levels.

How do I Know if My Home is Polluted?

You may have indoor air pollution if:

Your home is very dry and dusty.
There’s moisture on your windows and walls.
You have mold and mildew.
The air smells stale or stuffy.
You have high indoor humidity.
You’re not maintaining your HVAC equipment.

What’s the Solution for Poor IAQ?

Invest in an energy-efficient heat recovery ventilator that brings fresh air in and carries stale air out. Buy a hygrometer and keep relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. Install an air cleaning system; it can eliminate up to 99 percent of contaminants.

To learn more about affordable, clean-air solutions for Metropolis homes or to schedule an air quality evaluation, visit Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing or call (123) 456-7890.