Signs Of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Air quality is linked to several short-term and chronic health conditions, such as allergies, asthma, and upper respiratory infections. Most people in the Kansas City area associate being outdoors with poor air quality, but the air inside your home can affect your health in many of the same ways. At Summit Heating & Cooling we offer indoor air quality services to ensure that the air inside your home is healthy for your family. Here are 11 signs that you have poor indoor air quality.
1. Dust on Furniture
One of the most noticeable signs that you have poor indoor air quality in your Kansas City home is an excessive amount of dust on your furniture. The dust comes in through doors and windows, and even your HVAC ducts. Once inside, the dust circulates in the rooms, eventually landing on your furniture.
2. Dingy Windows
Do your windows have a dingy greyish film on them? This is a sign that you have indoor air quality problems. The film is a thin layer of dust combined with other particles, such as mold spores, bacteria, viruses, and pollen. When you have proper indoor air quality, you will not have this type of film on your windows.
3. Mold Colonies
Mold spores are among the most troublesome airborne particles for homeowners in Kansas City. Individual spores that are found in the air land in areas where a colony can develop and thrive, such as your bathtub, under sinks, fabrics, and walls. Mold is not only unattractive, but it also breaks down materials and can cause a great deal of damage to your home.
4. Vacuum Fluff
When you vacuum your carpets, rugs, hard floors, and furniture, is the canister filled with a greyish fluff? This is an accumulation of pet dander, dust, and other particles. Not only does this mean that you have to vacuum more often to keep your house clean, but the particles are released into the air each time you walk or sit. The particles in the air of your home are breathed in by you and your family, causing a range of physical symptoms.
5. Congestion
When you breathe in airborne particles, your immune system kicks in to fend off the intruders. Tissues in your nasal cavity and sinuses become inflamed, and you experience congestion. If you have congestion, more often than not, chances are that you have an indoor air quality problem in your home.
6. Irritated Eyes
Your eyes tell you a lot about the quality of air inside your Kansas City home. Redness, tearing, and discharge are all indications that airborne particles are irritating the membranes of your eyes. If you use eye drops on a regular basis and get no relief, it may be time to schedule an appointment with Summit Heating & Cooling to evaluate the quality of air in your home.
7. Sneezing
Sneezing is another way that your immune system tries to protect your body from invaders, such as pollen, dust, bacteria, and viruses. Sneezing once in a while is not problematic, but if you sneeze multiple times per day, something in the air is irritating your sinuses.
8. Trouble Sleeping
The breathing problems that are caused by poor indoor air quality typically worsen when you lay down to sleep. If you wake up several times during the night or wake up feeling tired, you may have an indoor air quality problem. The experts at Summit Heating & Cooling provide indoor air quality services so you can sleep soundly and wake up feeling refreshed.
9. Low Energy
Have you noticed that you have little to no energy during the day? This may be a sign that your body is combating particles that have found a way into your sinuses and breathing passage. Low energy often accompanies other physical symptoms of poor indoor air quality, such as sneezing, irritated eyes, and congestion.
10. Sinus Infections
Frequent sinus infections that develop year-round and not just during allergy season in the Kansas City area are signs of poor indoor air quality. The airborne particles have overwhelmed the first line of defense of your immune system, such as inflammation in the sinus cavity, sneezing, and coughing. When your body cannot rid itself of harmful particles, infection sets in to destroy the intruders.
11. Coughing
Coughing is another sign that you have breathed in irritating airborne particles while inside your home. You may also have a dry or sore throat, or you may have some mucous with your cough. Coughing can be caused by pollen, dust, pet dander, and even odors in your home.
How Poor Indoor Air Quality Affects Children and the Elderly
Children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions are especially vulnerable to the effects of poor indoor air quality. Their immune systems cannot defend against airborne particles. Studies have shown that poor indoor air quality is linked to children who develop asthma in adulthood. The elderly often experience serious respiratory issues, and people with chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, suffer symptoms more frequently and with greater severity.
Effects of Household Mold
Mold is of special concern for everyone in your home. The most common mold that we find in homes is black mold, but there are many other types of residential mold. Inhaling mold spores has been linked to numerous health conditions. Some people have mild symptoms, such as congestion, while others experience more severe problems. Kidney disease, lung disease, and even death are just some of the physical consequences of exposure to the types of mold that are commonly found in homes. In many cases, cleaning the visible mold is not enough. In fact, cleaning mold on your own can increase the risk of breathing in the spores. Mold can penetrate materials and get inside the walls, floors, and ceilings of your home. The best way to protect your family from the harmful effects of mold is to maintain appropriate indoor air quality.
Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality
You can take steps to improve the indoor air quality of your Kansas City home. Summit Heating & Cooling offers HVAC duct cleaning and repair services to prevent airborne particles from being distributed throughout your home by your heating and cooling system. We also recommend that you replace your HVAC filters with high-quality designs that trap the smallest airborne particles. You may also want to consider a whole-home air purification system to clean the air in your home. These products are more effective than standalone units that only cover a small area of your home.
Professional Indoor Air Quality Services
As a family-owned and operated business, Summit Heating & Cooling understands the importance of keeping your family safe and comfortable. Our professional indoor air quality services and products help you improve the air that your family breathes each and every day. We can also help with the installation, repair, and maintenance of your heating and cooling system. Call us today for more information. Be sure to ask about our water heaters, ductless mini-split systems, 24/7 emergency repair services, and other services that we offer.
