Did you know that indoor air quality can be two to five times worse than the quality of the air outside? In fact, breathing in allergens and other airborne particles can affect your family’s health and well-being. The good news is, there are several ways to improve the air quality in your home. Here’s why you should regularly test the air quality in your home.
The symptoms of poor indoor air quality Poor indoor quality can lead to a condition called sick building syndrome (SBS). The symptoms of SBS are similar to that of a cold or flu and can include:
A sore throat
Difficulty breathing and a tight chest
A runny nose
Sneezing
A burning sensation in your nose
Dry, itchy skin
Headache
Nausea and dizziness
Irritability
Body aches, fever and chill
Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
Furthermore, people with asthma or other respiratory illnesses may experience more severe symptoms when exposed to poor indoor air.
The causes of poor-quality indoor air
There are several possible causes of unhealthy air, including:
Smoking
Indoor pets
Pollen
Dust mites
Radon
Poor ventilation
Improperly vented furnaces or fireplaces
Mould and mildew
Vapours from cleaning products, paints and pesticides
Building materials such as asbestos, lead and formaldehyde
You may feel the effects of breathing in polluted air right away or several years down the line.
Improving indoor air quality
Here are four things your HVAC company can do to improve the air quality in your home.
1. Maintain your home’s ducts and filters. Allergens and pollutants can lurk in your home’s air ducts and HVAC filters. Consequently, having your ducts cleaned regularly and changing your furnace filter every three to six months can reduce airborne contaminants.
Install an electronic air cleaner (EAC). EACs effectively remove smoke particles, dander, mould and viruses from your home’s air. They feature HEPA, UV light and carbon filters to remove microscopic pollutants from the air. An HVAC technician can install one in conjunction with your current system.
2. Use mechanical ventilation. Always use the exhaust fan in your bathroom and the hood fan in your kitchen to remove humid, dirty air from your home.
3. Regulate your home’s humidity. Controlling the humidity in your home is essential to maintaining healthy air. Adding humidity in winter and dehumidifying in summer can help keep airborne contaminants at bay.
If you want to improve the quality of your indoor air, the experts at Harmony Heating & Air Conditioning can help.
Ventilation and air purification in Calgary
At Harmony Heating & Air Conditioning, we carry a range of products designed to improve the air quality in your home. From heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and electronic air cleaners (EACs) to steam humidifiers and high-tech ventilation systemsventilation systems, our technicians can retrofit your current HVAC system to ensure the air in your home is fresh and clean. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.