When you’re lethargic and sniffling, you’re probably going to assume that your coworker with that persistent sniffle gave you the cold you’re suffering from, but have you ever thought about how your home affects your health? They’re more related than you might think. Poor indoor air quality is a huge detriment to your health. If your ductwork is dirty, then it will make cold and flu season here in Florida even more of a challenge. If you have poor indoor air quality, try an air duct cleaning this winter. It’s a simple step you can take toward higher home comfort and better health.
All About Low Indoor Air Quality
Improving your indoor air quality can seem like an uphill battle, here’s everything you need to understand about low indoor air quality.
Why You Have Low Indoor Air Quality
In a perfect world, the air in your home would be perfectly clean but in reality, your air carries microscopic contaminants. Causes of low indoor air quality include:
- Pet dander (yes, unfortunately, your four-legged friends do pose a problem to your IAQ)
- Dust, dirt, grime
- Humidity (a big problem here in Palm Bay)
- Household cleaning supplies
- Cigarette Smoke
- Pesticides
- Mold and mildew
- Dust mites and pollen
The one factor that worsens all of these problems is poor ventilation in your home. This is especially true when you live in a new, energy-efficiency home. When your home is very tightly sealed, it’s great for your energy expenses but the downside is that the harmful airborne contaminants and toxins endlessly cycle through your venting system. Duct cleaning is a great way to quickly boost your indoor air quality.
How Low IAQ Affects You
So how does poor indoor air quality affect you? Well, it makes any problem you have with your respiratory system worse. This time of year is cold and flu season so it’s likely that you might be nursing a virus for reasons other than your home’s air supply. Be sure that you’re not conflating common symptoms of indoor air quality with cold and flu symptoms. Symptoms like these include:
- Irritation of throat, nose, and eyes
- Dry skin, dry hair, and brittle nails,
- A sore throat, coughing, or airway infections
- Fatigue or headaches
- Dizziness and nausea
All these problems are either caused or worsened by the quality of the air in your home. You can tell that these are indoor air quality problems rather than cold and flu symptoms if other people experience these problems after entering your home, if these symptoms happen to everyone in your home, or if you leave your home for an extended period of time and the symptoms clear.
What an Air Duct Cleaning Does for You
An air duct cleaning will stop the cycle of contaminants circulating through your home. Our professionals will open up your system and clear away any contaminants plaguing your system. Your ductwork should be cleaned by a professional once every few years to ensure that you’re breathing clean air. Without the aid of a professional, it’s easy for your indoor air quality to become even worse than your outdoor air quality.
