Checking Your Indoor Air Quality
Posted in Air Quality, on October 13, 2017
If you’re a homeowner, one of the many things on your home’s to-do list should be an assessment of your indoor air quality. However, checking that your indoor air quality is of a high level isn’t as simple as a good sniff in each room or opening the windows wide on a breezy day - both those methods can hide or increase poor indoor air quality, and it’s important to hire a professional to ensure that you and your family remain safe and healthy indoors.
Common issues that affect your indoor air quality include:
- Badly maintained heating and ventilation systems (HVAC)
- Indoor contamination by materials used in construction, such as glues, fibreglass, paints, chemicals, etc.
- Mold or bacteria growth
- Inadequate temperature and humidity control
- Poor air circulation and ventilation
Poor indoor air quality can cause a range of symptoms from headaches, fatigue, and sneezing, to serious long-term health effects. Checking your air quality and maintaining a high level of indoor air quality in your home will ensure your health is safe and that you and your family can be comfortable.
If you suspect that your indoor air quality is compromised, the first step is to eliminate obvious culprits. If you’ve recently painted, brought in new furniture, or installed new construction materials, it may be likely that one of them is off-gassing VOCs that could be affecting you. Volatile Organic Compounds are small particles that are released into the air at room temperature. Not all are bad for your indoor air quality - the lovely smell of a freshly cut lemon is a VOC, for example. If these new materials might be the cause of poor indoor air quality, make sure you are running fans, bringing in new air, and getting rid of old air to remove any VOCs or other airborne problems.
If the problem persists, it might be time to hire someone like a specialist at SafeAir to perform indoor air quality checking and tests to determine if you have a more serious problem. Things from the outdoor environment can also have a big effect on your indoor air quality, especially when they get trapped indoors. Applying new sealant to windows and doors is one easy method you can take to tighten the seal on your home and protect your indoor air quality from unwanted outdoor air quality concerns.
But at the end of the day, if you’re worried about your indoor air quality and how it could be affecting your health and home life, it’s best to call in a professional. Small household fixes are a great start for a homeowner but true peace of mind and safety can only come from the specialized tools and services an indoor air quality specialist at SafeAir can provide. Our sensitive testing and sampling can help pinpoint minute causes of indoor air quality pollution, and our experience on the job means we have a myriad of solutions to fit your home’s needs. Indoor air quality does not have to be bad - just because you may live close to a factory or have just repainted your home doesn’t mean you have to live with the consequences.
Improving your indoor air quality greatly can be the result of a few easy steps - give us a call at SafeAir today!