Indoor air quality (IAQ) isn’t just a fancy term used to describe something you can’t see. Great air quality keeps people healthy, and poor air quality contributes to serious health problems. While outside air pollution is a frequently discussed topic, the importance of indoor air quality isn’t always prioritized, even though it makes a similar impact on your well-being .Importantly, if you or family members suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma, the significance of good indoor air quality is magnified. Take it from the Coop, the benefits of improving IAQ around your home shouldn’t be understated, and it’s time to find out how you can keep yourself and your family healthy.

Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality

What exactly causes you to struggle with poor air quality? Many homeowners don’t take measures to thoroughly clean their homes properly even when they think they do, and sources of indoor air pollution are all around. Something as simple as leaving out dirty working clothes for a day or two can really affect the quality of the air you breathe.

Fuel-burning appliances like stoves, ovens, heaters, fireplaces, and clothes dryers all reduce air quality around your home. Building necessities, like insulation and flooring, carpets, and cabinetry, can also cause poor air quality. Poor maintenance and care for your home heating and cooling systems and failing to get your plumbing fixtures serviced can keep your air quality at uncomfortably poor levels. By failing to maintain areas of a home, dust, dirt, and other contaminants can spread throughout the residence. 

Indoor Air Quality Directly Correlates With Your Health

The biggest impacts of poor indoor air quality are the short-term and long-term effects on your health. A high level of indoor pollution can cause illnesses and allergies and impact you and your loved ones. If you let sources of indoor air pollution linger, you increase the risk of lingering health issues that take a major toll on the body as you age. 

Health Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality

The best way to tell whether indoor air pollution affects your home is through your senses. Poor air quality can lead to irritation of your eyes, nose, and throat and can also include headaches and stress. Many of these effects can be treated with over-the-counter medication or rest, but they will likely return if the source of indoor air pollution isn’t removed.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality Around Your Home

So how exactly do you improve the IAQ around your home and keep those allergens away? Following sustainable routines is important, and if you keep some of these tips in mind, you can ensure that the air in your home stays cleaner with less pollutants.

  • Get in the habit of a daily cleaning routine.
  • Keep the humidity levels in your home under 50% with a whole house humidifier in the winter and a dehumidifier in the summer if you see signs of too much moisture or not enough.
  • Check weather conditions every day and keep windows closed in times of poor air quality.
  • Install whole-house air filtration and air purification systems, as well as allergy-friendly flooring, and hypoallergenic carpets.

Following these tips helps remove the sources of indoor air pollution, but these aren’t the only things you can do. If you want to dive deeper into improving the indoor air quality of your home, consult with a knowledgeable IAQ expert who can inspect your space and recommend a plan of action to ensure you keep your indoor environment pollutant free.

Your air conditioning and heating systems are important facets of the residence, and keeping them well cleaned and maintained can ensure you keep pollutant levels low. Changing out your air filters according to manufacturers’ recommendations is very important. Proper maintenance can reduce indoor air pollution and other harmful elements like carbon monoxide.

Discover the Benefits of Improved Air Quality With Cooper Mechanical

Now that you know the importance of indoor air quality, it’s time to enjoy the benefits of a well-filtered and maintained home. If you’re doing what you can to keep sources of indoor air pollution away, partner with a heat and cooling company that cares as much about maintaining your HVAC unit as you do. Cooper Mechanical provides HVAC services — including air conditioner repair in Bucks County, PA — that keep your indoor air quality up to par. Reach out to us today and enjoy a home that keeps you healthy for years to come.