Modern homes are well sealed to keep heating and cooling indoors. While this improves energy efficiency, inadequate fresh air, indoor contaminants and nonstop recirculation can lead to problems.
Don’t worry, though, because H&C Heating and Cooling can help you have an energy-efficient home that’s also comfortable. Our services include an air quality audit, air duct cleaning and products to help improve indoor air quality in Laurel, Maryland.
Call us at 301-960-3247 today to start refreshing your home’s indoor air quality.
Clues Your Home Deals With Poor Indoor Air Quality
Is your indoor air healthy? It might not be as healthy as you think. Pollution is often two to five times higher indoors compared to outdoors, as stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Indoor air pollution floating in your home’s air could result in headaches and allergy flareups. And mold and mildew can cause a host of health concerns.
Health Problems
While many of these symptoms may be a consequence of other issues, they may also be evidence your home has indoor air quality (IAQ) problems. This is particularly true if you feel normal again while you’re away from home.
- Dry eyes, nose, throat or skin
- Headaches and sinus irritation
- Fatigue
- Allergies or asthma symptoms that are worse than normal
- Coughing and sneezing
- Dizziness or nausea
Environmental Problems
A well-worn heating and cooling system may be contributing to indoor air quality problems, particularly if it’s unable to filter air, control humidity or keep temperatures consistent.
Here are a few other signs you might need to purify your indoor air:
- Too much static or mold growth
- Excessive dust
- Stale or musty odors
How Can I Avoid Indoor Air Quality Problems?
Preventing indoor air quality problems should be fairly straightforward with these 10 simple tips:
- Schedule an indoor air quality audit with H&C Heating and Cooling. We’ll evaluate areas that impact air quality, including humidity, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Then we’ll walk you through issues we find and how you can fix them.
- Clean on a regular basis to reduce dust mites, which can worsen allergies and asthma.
- Keep your home free of secondhand smoke.
- Install a whole-home filtration system to remove odors, rather than hiding them with air fresheners or strong candles. The contaminants include chemicals that can trigger headaches or upset respiratory illness.
- Air out gas-burning appliances, like stoves and water heaters, to the outdoors.
- Keep your home’s humidity levels in check with a humidifier or dehumidifier, according to your needs. Set humidity under 50% to restrict mold and mildew growth.
- Assess your home for radon. Long-term exposure to this invisible radioactive gas is the main cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers, as reported by the EPA. You can buy a radon test kit online or contact your state radon program for info on discounted or free kits.
- Utilize a ventilation system to exchange contaminated indoor air with fresh outdoor air.
- Choose natural cleaning and painting supplies that are low in or free of VOCs. Elevated levels of VOCs can aggravate symptoms for family members with respiratory conditions.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors right outside bedrooms.
Start Cleaning Your Air Today with H&C Heating and Cooling
With a full roster of certified professionals and indoor air quality solutions, H&C Heating and Cooling can help your family breathe much easier. Call us at 301-960-3247 or contact us online today to begin.