Most homeowners have been made aware of the potentially awful contaminants that could be lurking our home’s air supply. From smoke and nitrogen dioxide to carbon monoxide, radon gas and mold. It seems like the list is getting longer each and every year. So, it is understandable that many homeowners feel worried, but before you start to become paranoid about the dangers inside your home, you need to consider about how bad your air quality is.
The Age of Your Home:
Modern homes that were built in the last 15 years tend to be quite well ventilated and may have air quality systems in place already. It is homes that were built in the early 80s and later 70s that tend to have ventilation problems. Some homes from this era have been updated in recent years, but if this has not happened in your home, there is a potential for danger. Poor ventilation can be problematic in this age of home, but it is usually limited to less fresh air being drawn into the home and more airborne contaminants and allergens. This means that you may be more likely to experience higher levels of pollen, dust, pet dander and other debris in your home. Generally, these contaminants are not dangerous, but if there is a lack of fresh air circulating in your home, you may find that breathing in these contaminants could make you feel ill.
How Bad Does it Get?
In rare cases, homes can become subject to a more advanced contamination. The most common of these is mold growth. The optimum conditions for mold are damp, dark spaces. So, if your humidity levels spike in summer, your ductwork may create the perfect conditions for mold to grow. This would mean that mold spores could be blown directly into your air, putting the health of anyone in the home at risk.
Another potentially serious issue is exhaust fumes. Many appliances emit exhaust that needs to be properly eliminated from the home. Fortunately, both these issues can be corrected with regular cleaning of your ducts and exhausts.
It is also possible for outdoor contaminants to compromise your indoor air quality. Pollutant levels of radon, gas, smoke or other contaminants will need to be tested during the setup of a new indoor air system. There is a variety of purifiers and filters available, so you should be able to tailor your new air quality system to remove any traces of these potentially harmful pollutants. You may not require every type of filter or device, so it is important to check to ensure maximum air quality.
At the very least, you home may simply suffer from dusty, stale air. So, while it is important not to become overly worried about your indoor air quality, it is important to test regularly and keep everything clean. This will not only ensure that worse problems are prevented from developing, but you have the assurance that your home is safe. Your indoor air quality can not only affect your comfort levels, but it can have an impact on your health, so it is worth taking the time to have it checked.