Image creditHave you ever noticed that sometimes, the air in your home just doesn’t feel quite right? Now, you need to have good air quality in your home; everyone needs to be able to breathe easily. Maybe it’s a bit stuffy, or perhaps you find yourself sneezing more often than usual. While it’s easy to brush off these little signs, they could indicate that the air quality in your home isn’t as good as it should be. But where do you even start? Well, let’s dive into some common signs of poor indoor air quality and how you can tackle them. This is a partnered post.
Constant Sneezing and Sniffling
Do you or your family members find yourselves sneezing, coughing, or dealing with runny noses more often when you’re at home? These could be signs that your indoor air is packed with allergens. Dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores can all contribute to these symptoms. If you notice that these issues improve when you leave the house, your home’s air quality might be the culprit.
Persistent Bad Odors
Every home has its unique scent, but if you notice persistent bad odors that don’t seem to go away, it’s a red flag. But what exactly could these even be? Well, musty smells can indicate mold growth, while chemical-like odors might suggest VOCs from household cleaners, paint, or new furniture.
These pollutants can negatively impact your health, causing headaches, dizziness, or respiratory problems. Now, these are just examples; it doesn’t immediately mean that VOCs are the problem; it’s just a common one, but not always the main one.
Visible Dust and Dirt
So, it’s best to take a look around your home. Do you see a lot of dust accumulating on surfaces, even shortly after cleaning? You have to keep in mind that excessive dust can signal poor air filtration. If your HVAC system isn’t effectively capturing dust and other particles, they can remain airborne and settle throughout your home.
Plus, when was the last time you got your filter changed? Some homeowners don’t change the filter as often as they need to because they struggle to find the right size of the filter (big mistake), but nowadays, there are custom size air filters that you can buy or just custom order. But make sure to look into this because this within itself is a massive sign that the air quality in your home is bad. Plus, too much dust on the filter can damage your HVAC, too.
Increased Humidity Levels
So, this one definitely throws people by surprise, but there’s a lot of truth to this, too! So, humidity plays a big role in air quality. If your home feels humid or you notice condensation on windows and walls, it can create a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Plus, you have to keep in mind that mold spores are a significant indoor allergen and can lead to respiratory issues, especially for those with asthma or allergies. So, one major solution that people do is to simply get a dehumidifier, but outside of that, you’ll also need to ensure proper ventilation can help keep humidity levels in check.
Frequent Headaches and Fatigue
Now, this one sounds really odd, but there’s a lot of truth to it! Do you often experience unexplained headaches or fatigue when you’re at home? Well, there might be a huge chance that poor indoor air quality can be a hidden cause. But how? Well, high levels of carbon monoxide, VOCs, and other pollutants can lead to these symptoms.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the cause could be, but these could be a potential reason. Overall, just make sure your home is well-ventilated and consider using air purifiers to reduce the concentration of these harmful substances.
Stale or Stuffy Air
Alright, so every home deals with it. But even so, it still deserves some attention! If the air in your home feels stale or stuffy, it might be a sign that your ventilation system isn’t working efficiently. Usually, the main solution is to open up a window; this usually works. But if opening windows doesn’t seem to help, you might need to inspect your HVAC system or consider installing an air exchanger.
Visible Mold Growth
Mold and mildew smells were mentioned above, but now it’s time to actually address the real deal itself. So, for starters, mold isn’t always easy to spot, but if you see it growing on walls, ceilings, or around windows, it’s a clear sign of a moisture problem. You need to get to the source ASAP or else this can get worse.