4 Ways You May Be Hurting Your Home’s Air Quality

Poor air quality in your Appling, GA, home can harm your health and affect your comfort. Here are four things that can reduce the air quality inside your home and how to avoid them:

Skipping HVAC Maintenance

In addition to heating and cooling your home, your HVAC system also filters the air. A dirty filter is unable to effectively trap dust, pollen and other airborne particles. This results in pollutants circulating through your home.

You need an HVAC service technician for difficult maintenance tasks. However, changing a filter is usually quick and easy for most homeowners. A dirty filter is a leading cause of poor IAQ, so don’t skip this step.

Smoking Indoors

The American Lung Association reports that cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals. There’s ammonia, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other toxins in the smoke. When you smoke inside your home, these chemicals get into your air.

Smoking is a habit that can ruin your health. Second-hand smoke from your cigarettes also puts others at risk. If you must smoke, consider doing so outside away from others.

Using Toxic Household Products

Some cleaning products can put out volatile organic compounds (VOCs) upon use. These chemicals turn into vapor or gas at room temperature. When this happens, VOCs can pollute the air and possibly irritate your lungs and eyes.

A few products that commonly off-gas VOCs include household cleaners, hairsprays and paints. If you must use these products, make sure the area has good ventilation. Another option is to switch to non-toxic alternatives.

Blocking Fresh Air

A home with inefficient ventilation can trap stale air and pollutants indoors. If you never allow fresh air inside your home, you’re hurting your IAQ. When your HVAC system is off, consider opening a window for fresh air.

Now’s the time to make changes if you’re harming the air quality in your Appling, GA, home. Contact Plunkett Heating & Air to learn about our IAQ services.

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