High-quality indoor air in your home is important for your family’s comfort and general well-being. Poor air quality in your home can be hazardous to your health and those that live with you. Different factors affect indoor air quality, like poor ventilation or extremely low or high humidity.
An HVAC system that doesn’t provide proper ventilation can negatively affect your indoor air. Pollutants such as dust, chemical-based cleaning supplies, pesticides or pet dander can cause poor indoor air quality. Achieving optimal ventilation must be a priority for any indoor space. Let’s take a look at six ways poor ventilation can affect your health and safety, including ways to solve your indoor air quality issues.
1. Accumulation of Contaminants
Without good airflow, indoor pollutants will accumulate quickly in different areas of your home. This can include collecting inside the fibers of your carpets as well as in the air that you breathe. It’s ideal to open your windows now and again to let fresh air in, but the weather can sometimes prevent this from happening.
The presence of contaminants in your indoor air can lead to fatigue, dizziness, upper respiratory issues and an increase in allergies. If you feel much better when you are away from home, but symptoms return when you get back, it may be beneficial to consult an expert about the ventilation inside your home.
2. Unpleasant Odors
Odors are another common issue in poorly ventilated houses. Without good airflow, foul smells can become pronounced and take a while to dissipate. Unpleasant odors can sometimes be a sign of a major safety and health problem, such as mold. One of the best ways to eliminate lingering smells is to enhance ventilation and airflow in and out of the affected areas. You’ll also want to address the main source of the odor.
3. Extremely High or Low Humidity Levels
Poor ventilation can impact the humidity levels inside your home. Extremely dry air causes discomfort, like sore throats, dry skin, sinus and eye irritations. Some viruses also survive longer in dry air, making it easy to transmit illness. Dry air tends to feel colder than humid air, so you may end up running your HVAC system more frequently to keep up.
High humidity can also impact indoor air quality. If the moisture produced when cooking and showering remains indoors, moisture will build up on your windows in the form of condensation. This can lead to water damage and even mold growth. Humid air can also make your home feel hot and uncomfortable, as moist air can hold on to heat much better than cold air.
4. Increased Risk of Airborne Diseases
Poor ventilation can increase the risk of airborne diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. Due to the lack of fresh air in indoor spaces, bacteria, and viruses can remain suspended in the air, which increases the likelihood of passing germs from one person to another. If one individual in your house has an illness or infection, adequate ventilation is a great way to keep everyone else healthy. There are also filters that you can use in your HVAC system that can trap viruses from passing back through your ducts and into your home.
5. Low Oxygen Levels
Poor ventilation in an indoor space can lead to carbon dioxide buildup. As a result, the oxygen levels in your indoor air will be reduced. This can cause a number of symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, decreased cognitive function and headaches.
6. Respiratory Problems
Inadequate ventilation can lead to various respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma. Exposure to indoor contaminants such as mold, chemicals and dust can irritate the airways and lungs. Some people may even experience breathing difficulties. People prone to respiratory issues and allergies benefit from adequate ventilation. The addition of a whole-house air purifier can be extremely beneficial.
Partner With the Air Quality Experts
Your indoor air can be dangerous and unhealthy, especially if your living space has poor ventilation. Stale air exposes your household to allergens and irritants, leading to respiratory complications, illness and allergic reactions. If you are experiencing air quality problems, contact our experts at IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning Co.. Our trained professionals can assess your home’s ventilation and find ways to improve your home in the Arlington Heights, IL area.
We are also experts in installing and servicing air purifiers, humidifiers, water heaters, boilers, heating equipment and air conditioning units. Contact us now for professional air quality services or to schedule your appointment.
