Poor indoor quality emanates from typical activities at home, such as cooking, bathing, and washing dishes. If you don’t have adequate ventilation, then your space becomes humid, attracting biological contaminants. Dust, pet dander, dirt, and gases accumulate in your residence, ruining air quality. Using aerosols and toxic cleaning detergents also cause bad air quality. Here are telltale signs that your home has poor air quality.
Cold Symptoms
For starters, you and your loved ones will have flu-like or cold symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and red eyes. In some cases, you will have nausea, dizziness, irritated nose and throat. If you have allergies, you will notice that they will get worse. Poor indoor air quality aggravates the symptoms, making you sicker. If you don’t get better in a week, there is an issue with the air you breathe. You can rely on Clockwork Heating and Air Conditioning for indoor air quality services. We can change or replace your air filters to boost air quality.
Difficulty Sleeping
Air pollution is one of the reasons why you might have difficulty sleeping. Humidity levels and temperature have a ripple effect on your sleep. For instance, if the air is too dry or moist, you won’t have a good night’s sleep. When it’s too cold or hot in your room, you will have trouble drifting into slumber. Typically, contaminants cause airway irritation such that you can’t breathe well as you sleep. You will lose sleep since your system isn’t in excellent condition.
Dust Accumulation and Buildup
Dust buildup on surfaces is a physical sign that you have poor indoor air quality. It means that your HVAC system isn’t working correctly to remove the dust. You can easily spot dust in the air vents, a clear sign of bad air quality. Pollen, dust mites, and pet dander are the root causes of excessive dust in your indoor space. You will find yourself wiping off surfaces every time. The air filter could be damaged or old; therefore, it needs an upgrade.
Humidity Problems
You need relative humidity of about 35% to 50% for comfort. Excess moisture in the air leads to biological growth. Dry air leads to itchy skin, respiratory issues, and furniture warping. In that case, fluctuating humidity levels create problems within your home, whether they are health or structural issues. To experience indoor quality, you need a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture. A humidifier adds some water vapor to the air making it comfortable for you and your family.
Cold and Hot Spots
Uneven air distribution results in hot and cold spots within your home. Pollutants and irritants thrive in cold and hot spots since air isn’t circulating well. Plus, you won’t even get infiltration, leading to bad air quality. Clogged ducts, a small HVAC, and a malfunctioning unit struggle to distribute air. On that account, some zones won’t give you the desired temperatures. Some rooms will be hotter or colder than the others causing discomfort. Improper temperatures are one of the red flags of poor indoor air quality.
Unpleasant Smells
Pest infestation, spores growth, chemicals, and dust decomposition cause unpleasant smells. Musty odors are a sign that mold has grown and spread to other parts of your house. Basically, the air is stagnant, and no ventilation is taking place at the moment. Take, for instance; you are cooking in the evening and burn something in the process. If the smell still lingers in the atmosphere the next day, your air purifiers aren’t working. Therefore, the air quality in your home has a massive problem that needs intervention. It means that the air is full of contaminants.
Skin Rashes
Skin rashes and redness indicate the presence of indoor pollutants. Dry and cracked skin also means that you have bad air quality at home. Your skin is reacting to the contaminated air. If you have acne, eczema, or any other skin ailment, the symptoms will worsen. Our experts can remedy the situation by cleaning ducts and replacing your air filters.
Persistent Headaches
Chemicals, standing garbage, and household cleaners can cause a splitting headache. Poor air quality also leads to sinus headaches due to congestion and difficulty breathing. If you notice that you only have headaches while at home, it could be bad air quality. Strong odors are the root cause of persistent headaches.
You can count on Clockwork Heating and Air Conditioning to boost your indoor air quality. Our experts will test the air quality and recommend the best way forward. We also offer heating and cooling repairs, installation, and maintenance in the Athens, GA, area.