7 Warning Signs of Bad Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

Indoor air quality is air quality in a building or home. Indoor air can have dust, pet dander, pollen, mold, or other allergens. Indoor air pollution is becoming a severe issue for many people worldwide, and we must take steps to improve our indoor air quality.

The health risks of poor indoor air quality are not limited to allergies and respiratory problems. Studies have shown that poor indoor air quality can lead to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

You spend a significant amount of time in your home. You’ve invested your hard-earned money in this space, so you must protect indoor air quality.

You must protect indoor air quality because indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air. It’s because of the large number of contaminants that are typically in our homes, like dust and pet dander. These pollutants can be especially harmful to people with allergies or asthma.

Homeowners need to know about this because they may only realize that their property’s value could reduce due to indoor air quality problems after they sell their house.

With that in mind, here are some warning signs in your home that let you know indoor air quality isn’t good.

1. Sneezing or allergic reactions

Poor air quality in your home can cause various health problems, the most common being sneezing and allergic reactions. The most common symptoms are sneezing and allergic reactions, which can lead to more severe health problems such as asthma. Please pay attention to the quality of the air you breathe at home because it directly impacts your overall health.

Poor indoor air quality symptoms include sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, sinus pressure or headaches, asthma symptoms, and difficulty breathing.

The causes of poor air quality differ, such as mold, dust mites in bedding or carpets, pet dander in the home, and tobacco smoke from a neighbor’s house that seeps into your home through cracks in the walls or windows.

2. Dry or irritated skin

There are many different reasons for dry skin, but it is essential to know that it can also be a sign of poor indoor air quality.

Dry skin is not only uncomfortable, but it also affects the appearance of our complexion. That’s why taking care of your skin from the inside out is vital to ensuring good indoor air quality.

Some common signs of poor indoor air quality include dry or irritated skin, headaches, and fatigue. When we don’t have good indoor air quality in our homes, we breathe in pollutants and chemicals that can irritate our lungs and cause problems with our immune systems.

Poor indoor air quality affects your skin badly by making it go through oxidative stress after prolonged exposure to it.

3. Dust buildup

Dust is a natural part of life, but it can also be a sign that you have poor indoor air quality at home. Improving your air quality is essential so that you and your family can breathe more easily.

Dust buildup is usually caused by poor indoor air quality, making it hard for you to breathe and feel comfortable in your home. There are many ways to improve the indoor air quality in your home, but one of the most straightforward solutions is vacuuming more frequently or using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

If you have air conditioning and dust buildup within it, that can affect your indoor air quality. You probably need services such as air duct cleaning in Houston Speed Dry USA to help eliminate the dust buildup in your air ducts.

4. Inconsistent distribution of heated and cooled air

Another common sign of poor indoor air quality is inconsistent heating and cooling. The uneven distribution of heated or cooled air can cause you to feel colder in some places than others.

Inadequate ventilation, moisture, or poor HVAC systems can result in these inconsistencies. Since these are also responsible for indoor air quality, then issues with your ventilation will affect indoor air. You may need to replace some parts of your system.

Make sure you maintain and clean your HVAC system regularly to ensure that your system has a manageable amount of dust.

5. Bad odors

Foul odors can signal that you have poor indoor air quality at home. The most common causes of bad odors are pet smells, cooking smells, and mold.

The best way to improve indoor air quality is to ensure that your house is clean and well-ventilated. This step will help keep your home smelling fresh and prevent the growth of mold spores in the air.

Odors are often caused by cooking food or using cleaning products in an enclosed space. But they can also be caused by chemical reactions from the building materials in your home, like paint or new carpeting.

If you notice changes in smell or are experiencing symptoms like headaches or a stuffy nose for a while, check the airflow. Ensure you get rid of the source, but if the odor stays for way longer than it should, you should ventilate your home.

6. Coughing or difficulty breathing

Poor indoor air quality can lead to health issues like coughing and difficulty breathing.

There are a few things you can do to improve the indoor air quality in your home:

• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to clean up dust and other small particles from carpets and furniture.
• Use an ionizer or UV light cleaner to get rid of airborne particles that might be present in your house.
• Install an exhaust fan for cooking or bathing, so the moisture doesn’t stay in the room too long.
• Keep windows open as much as possible when it’s not too cold outside so fresh air can come into your house.

These things will help reduce dust and other pollutants from accumulating in these areas.

7. Humidity issues

Humidity is a measure of the water vapor in the air. The higher the humidity, the more moisture in the air.

Some humidity levels are desirable, while others can be uncomfortable or unhealthy. For example, high humidity levels can cause discomfort and make breathing difficult. Low humidity levels can also lead to health problems like dry skin and sinus irritation.

8. Mold & mildew growth

Mold and mildew growth are signs of poor indoor air quality in your home. Usually, sources of moisture or excessive moisture in your home can make mold and mildew go wilder.

Molds can grow on any surface that has water or moisture, including bathrooms, kitchens, and window sills. Mildew also indicates poor indoor air quality because it grows in moist areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms.

The most important thing to do when you notice mold or mildew growth is to remove the source of water or moisture as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Once you identify these signs of bad indoor air quality, your next step is identifying the source. Your indoor air quality should then improve once you finish that part. You will then have a much healthier and happier home for you and all the people that live with you at home.