Whenever we think about air pollution, we imagine vast clouds of smog hanging over cities and spewing out from factories. What we tend not to think about is how this pollution affects us when we’re indoors. Air quality in South Florida is pivotal to human health, and as we spend so much of our time indoors, the importance of indoor air quality can’t be overstated.
If you’re serious about air quality, why not give USA Air Conditioning Services a call at (866) 983-0488? We’ll be able to administer a home quality air test and help you find the perfect solution for clean indoor air. We offer the most thorough air duct cleaning services in South Florida!
Why is Clean Air Important?
Most of us spend an excessive amount of our time indoors, whether in the office or our homes. That means that while we may be exposed to a bit of outdoor air pollution, a much more significant concern should be the quality of the air we breathe indoors.
While you may expect that indoor air is cleaner than outdoor air, by default, this usually isn’t the case. Outdoor pollutants don’t have access to our indoor spaces, but many types of indoor air pollution can affect your health. Some of the most common ones include:
- Radon. This gas is the second-most common cause of lung cancer in adults. Radon is a commonly found gas, occurring in trace amounts in the atmosphere. When you’re outdoors, radon is harmless because it’s so low in concentration. The issue comes when radon enters an indoor space through cracks and vents. Since it can’t escape, it becomes concentrated, leading to radon exposures that can be detrimental to your health.
- Mold spores. If you have allergies or asthma, you know the damage that spores can do. Mold commonly grows in air ducts, and when they’re ready to reproduce, they release their spores into the air. These spores can exacerbate allergies and cause asthma attacks.
- Combustion materials. Gasses, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, are toxic to humans and are released when various substances combust. If your home has a clogged dryer vent fireplace, space heater, wood stove or gas stove, you run the risk of being exposed to these pollutants. If improperly filtered, these gasses can cause dizziness, headaches, and even death in the case of carbon monoxide. Both these gasses are colorless and odorless, and it’s difficult to tell if you’ve been exposed until you start feeling ill.
What Can You Do About Indoor Air Quality
If you find yourself suffering from chronic asthma attacks or allergies, chances are you may be affected by low air quality. It’s important to do regular indoor air quality testing to measure the amount of pollution in the air you breathe. While you can’t do much about the air quality in your workplace, you can do a lot at home, like conducting a home air quality test. You can start by adhering to some simple tips including:
- Keep your house clean. By keeping your home clean, you get rid of allergens such as dust and dander that may otherwise cause flare-ups.
- Keep most plants outside. It may seem counter-intuitive, but indoor plants can actually be bad for air quality. Most indoor plants will collect and grow mold, which far outweighs the benefits of having an indoor plant.
- Change your air filters regularly. If you have an AC unit, make sure to change the air filters every six months. Air filters work by trapping dust and spores before they can reach your home, but once they get clogged up, they stop working effectively. You can either clean your filters or replace them once they get old and dirty.
- Install fresh air ventilation systems. Technology is rapidly advancing to the point where fresh air systems can greatly improve the quality of your indoor air. These systems will not only filter out harmful particles like dust, dander, and spores, but will remove harmful gasses, and save the health of your household.
Who to Contact?
Indoor air quality can have a huge impact on your health. Contact USA Air Conditioning Services at (866) 983-0488 to discuss what you can do to get the very best indoor quality air possible. Not only do we do indoor air testing, but we can also provide expert advice on the latest air purifying technology available.