Allergies, Irritations, or Respiratory Problems One of the first (and most alarming) signs that your home has poor air quality is if you or your family experience an increase in allergies, irritations, or respiratory problems. These sudden changes can be caused by a variety of air contaminants, such as: Mold spores.
Occupants of homes with poor indoor air quality may complain of symptoms such as headache, eye irritation, fatigue, dry throat, sinus congestion, dizziness, and nausea. Because many illnesses can cause these symptoms, diagnosing sick building syndrome is difficult.
Purchase an indoor air quality monitor
They do, and they are the easiest option on the market today for consistently checking your Indoor Air Quality. What is it? An always-on electronic device that consistently tests and reports on the levels of pollution inside your home.
Signs of poor indoor air quality may include excessive amounts of dust or increased difficulty breathing in your home. People with allergies or other breathing problems will often be some of the first to experience the effects of poor indoor air quality. Sometimes you might even smell the problem before you can see it.
Simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality include: Reduce dust by vacuuming regularly and using a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting. Reduce humidity to avoid mold and mildew buildup and change appliance filters regularly. And make sure to test your home for dangerous gases like radon.
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.
You can use a 3M LeadCheck Swab (found at most hardware stores) to do this; be sure you swab any children's products and imported goods. Conduct a lead risk assessment by a certified inspector before any home remodel.
You can use a testing device or hire an indoor air quality specialist. Either option is good. Radon and mold tests are usually recommended to test home air quality and other home tests when buying a new home.
The two most common methods used to identify a mold problem are mold test kits or air testing sensors. These kits include the necessary air test devices, chemical strips, or Petri dishes and are available at department stores or online. They'll also come with an instruction manual for any brand-specific guidelines.
Indoor exposures to air pollutants, including particulate matter, allergens, oxides of nitrogen, endotoxin, and mold, have been associated with impaired health and performance in children and adults.
Begin by ordering a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Test , VOC and Formaldehyde Test, Formaldehyde Test, or Tobacco Smoke Test to measure toxic chemical compositions in the air.
Repeated or prolonged exposure to high levels of some VOCs can cause blurred vision, headaches, nausea, dizziness, coughing, burning eyes, respiratory irritation, skin rashes, respiratory illness, concentration difficulties, and other symptoms.
Air purifiers with a true HEPA filter (H-13) and activated carbon filter are likely to be the most effective, but it's important to use them in conjunction with other strategies such as UVC and PCO technology to improve air quality.
At-home test kits are readily available, offering a preliminary assessment of IAQ within your home. These kits provide the necessary equipment and instructions for collecting samples to analyze pollutants such as radon, mold, dust mites, and VOCs.
Signs that can indicate your home may not have enough ventilation include moisture condensation on windows or walls, smelly or stuffy air, dirty central heating and air cooling equipment, and areas where books, shoes, or other items become moldy.
Effects on overall health
Fresh air does not enter and stale air is not removed to the outside. The consequences are: Increased risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies. Increased risk of developing respiratory problems.
The first option is to install an air quality monitor to provide continuous data on pollutants in the home, like particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and VOCs. Devices like the PurpleAir Indoor Air Quality Monitor help homeowners monitor real-time changes in air quality, making it easier to take action when necessary.
Ventilation, Ventilation, Ventilation
A major problem for indoor air quality is high moisture levels, but regular ventilation can help lower these levels and clean up the air in your home. Trickle vents can purify and cycle the air you breathe, while exhaust fans can help carry pollutants outside.
Get a “True HEPA” air purifier.
HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns and they are an effective instrument in filtering out mold, dust, pollen, and other air pollutants. This type of filter should be replaced every month or two to work efficiently.