You may constantly be told about new subjects that should bother you and the rest of society. Don’t bring home merchandise that has BPA. Steer clear of the microwave. Only keep your food in glass containers, not plastic.
Now people are prattling on about indoor air quality (or IAQ) in Cleveland. You shouldn’t use anything with chemicals to wipe down your counters. You should install an air purification system. You should use essential oils instead of air fresheners.
The chatter never ends.
So you start to turn a deaf ear to all the noise and just try and live your life. We get it - why panic about one issue if you’re just going to have to constantly worry about everything else?
But, of anything, indoor air quality is definitely a point you should focus on, and here’s why.
It affects your health
We’ve explained how to fight sickness and stay healthy with indoor air quality; and, we’ve shown you how to Stop the Sneezes and help alleviate symptoms of asthma and allergies with recommendations to improve indoor air quality; we’ve even provided information about the APCO Whole-House Air Purifier to help keep your indoor air quality at its best. So now, we’ll be frank: poor indoor air quality is going to result in poor health . We spend upwards of 90% of our life indoors and with indoor air contaminants, including pet dander, dust, fibers, and virus-causing germs, hanging around our homes, it’s critical to have an air purification system that can clean our air and help fight the germs that cause illness.
It affects your home
Not only could bad air quality affect your lungs, it can also affect the function of your home. Indoor air with elevated levels of impurities floating around is tougher on your home’s heating and cooling system. Impurities clog the parts of the blower system and the home’s air filters faster, causing your HVAC system to work a lot more to keep your home comfortable. Your duct system can also become dirty more quickly, giving you inefficient airflow.
It affects your workplace
Several studies have proven that poor indoor air quality can actually have a huge effect on workplace production. Not only can it intensify the symptoms of allergies and asthma, but the pollution emitted by copying machines, cleaning supplies, poorly maintained HVAC systems, and electrical equipment can cause headaches (even migraines), watery eyes, and irritated throats. While these symptoms may be short-lived, continued exposure to poor indoor air quality (40 hours a week in the office definitely counts) can result in skin rashes, respiratory problems, and other chronic conditions. On the more drastic side, radon or asbestos seeping in through damaged foundations or ceilings can actually cause cancer and other deadly diseases and a strong concentration of carbon monoxide can cause sudden death.
So the next time you hear the phrase indoor air quality, listen intently because it could be vital for your health and for your home. If you aren’t sure if your home’s indoor air quality is healthy or struggling, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for a free in-home analysis and we’ll verify your indoor air quality levels and share whole-home air cleaning plans with you.