Contributors to Poor Indoor Air Quality

There are many factors which can cause poor air quality in your home.  Some common contributors are described in the list below.  Although you may not have all of these factors occurring in your home, by addressing the ones you do, you can increase your air quality and overall home comfort.

• Irregular maintenance. Lack of regular maintenance on your heating and cooling system can lead to poor air circulation, reduced efficiency and wasted energy.  A regular HVAC tune-up of your system can help sustain the air quality inside your home.

• Airborne particles can come from anywhere and often result in allergic reactions. A good filtering system, such as a highly-rated filter or air cleaner added to your current heating and cooling system, can relieve this problem.

• Excessive dryness.  If you have floorboards that creak, your house is too dry. Excessive dryness can cause floorboards to warp and furniture to crack. If you don’t have a built-in humidifier system, you can add moisture with a room humidifier. Once you get your moisture level stabilized, your home will feel more comfortable and your energy bills may even go down as a result.

• Excessive moisture is just as big a problem as excessive dryness. It promotes the growth of microbes and mildew. The first symptom is usually moisture collecting on your windows and dampness on your walls. A properly sized air conditioning system not only cools indoor air, but also helps reduce humidity. The best solution for excessive moisture is a dehumidifier.

• Uneven circulation is often caused by poorly sized duct system. Check your ducts to make sure they’re tightly sealed and free of debris so they can achieve maximum efficiency and air quality. Have them inspected by a professional once every 3 years to ensure they are clean and operating efficiently.

• Sealing air leaks will virtually eliminate drafts and prevent pollutants from entering your home through the leaks. It will also help minimize energy consumption.

• Carbon monoxide is one of the hardest things to detect.  It’s important for the safety of your family to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home.  Don’t forget to check the batteries on a regular basis.

• A fireplace adds greatly to the atmosphere of a home, but it is a potential source of indoor pollutants, particularly if the damper is not closed properly.

• Improper venting can result in condensation. It can also be the cause of ‘stuffy’ air and can even contribute to structural damage to your house. Mechanical ventilation systems remove poor indoor air and replace it with fresh, conditioned outdoor air.

Sources:   www.ajperri.com
                   www.epa.gov