Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies or a serious asthma problem, you know that breathing polluted air can make you feel very sick. It’s likely that you associate your problems with outdoor pollutants such as smog, car exhaust, pollen and industrial waste. However, it’s important to remember that you can also be affected by particle pollutants inside your home. If you or someone in your family suffers from a respiratory illness, it’s a good idea to consider an air purification system to combat pollutants located inside your Savannah home or business.
Is Your Home Making You Sick?
Air conditioners and furnaces have long been blamed for a host of health problems. You may have read that air conditioners can trigger asthma or that heaters will dry out your sinuses. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often caused not by specific HVAC devices but by the overall air quality inside your home. The following are indications that you are breathing unhealthy air in your home:
- You find yourself suffering from an increase number of asthma attacks or allergy flare ups.
- You notice a musty or moldy smell in some or all areas of your home.
- You suffer from headaches, sore throats or runny noses that aren’t connected to an illness.
- You notice that some areas of your home are much warmer or much cooler than other areas.
- You suffer from unusual respiratory or health problems after moving into a new home or apartment.
If you notice any of the above issues in your home, it’s important to have air-quality testing conducted. A professional HVAC technician can complete testing and help you find air quality solutions that meet your needs.
Assessing Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) ratings describe whether or not the air that you breathe in your home is healthy. If you’ve experienced respiratory health issues that aren’t tied to an external illness, such as the cold or a flu, having IAQ testing completed is a great way to identify pollutants in your home and discover air purification solutions. IAQ testing generally measures the presence of the following pollutants in your home:
- Mold and mildew.
- Dust, dander and pollens.
- Particle pollutants such as car exhaust and smog.
- Pesticides or chemical pollutants.
Your HVAC technician will also attempt to determine how pollutants are being circulated throughout your home. The tech may check HVAC vents and ducts. Be aware that air leakage in your home caused by poorly fitted windows or crack in the floorboards, walls and ceiling may also facilitate the entrance of pollutants.
Home Air Purification Solutions
One of the easiest ways to control air quality inside your home is to use an air purifier. These devices are designed to either work as standalone solutions or to integrate with your home’s current central heating and cooling system. An HVAC dealer will help you choose an air purifier suited to your needs.
At Byrd Heating and Air Conditioning, we believe that all families should breathe clean, fresh air. If you would like to learn more about IAQ or your air purification options, please call us today. We are proud to serve residential and commercial customers throughout the Savannah, GA, area.
