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If you’ve never had an indoor air quality test, then you might not necessarily know you need one. While people may experience the symptoms of poor indoor air quality, it’s amazing how much people chalk this up to the outdoor allergies that often cause these symptoms.
In truth, with modern HVAC systems, you can reduce outdoor allergens and pollution before they become indoor air quality issues. Indoor air pollutants can be anywhere between two to five times stronger than outdoor ones, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even with all this, some wonder whether indoor air quality testing is worth it, and at 865 HVAC, we feel the answer is a resounding “yes.”
Environmental Factors That Affect Indoor Air Quality
There are a myriad of potential pollutants and allergens that can easily make their way into your home environment. These come in when you open the door or window, and in many cases, a screen does nothing to filter them out. If you have a pet, you’ll find it amazing how many allergens accompany our animal friends.
Allergens and pollutants can also come from inside your home and from your clothing and shoes. Let’s examine some of these problematic air quality issues in more depth.
Pet Dander
Pet dander refers to microscopic skin flakes that come from our pets and make their way into the living environment. Animal dander isn’t limited to our cats and dogs; animals like rodents and birds also present some problems for allergy sufferers. The chief issue with these are the proteins that make allergies worse.
Chemical and Non-Chemical Odors
Some allergy sufferers experience a flare-up when they smell odors that aren’t typically found in their environments. These odors can come from cleaning products, foods, pesticides, and even certain perfumes and colognes.
Humidity
While the level of moisture in the air can cause direct problems for allergy sufferers, it’s usually the effects of either too much humidity or too little that cause the most problems. When humidity levels are high, microorganisms, like bacteria and mold, will find the environment favorable. This increases the number of airborne spores, which leads to breathing problems for allergy sufferers. High moisture also traps airborne allergens in the air, like pollen and dander, which makes them easier to breathe in. Low humidity can dry the airways, causing irritation, coughing, and increased sensitivity to allergens.
Dust
Much of the dust that you see on surfaces is actually the result of human dander. This makes it one of the environmental indoor allergens that are generated within the home. Outside of human dead skin, small parts of fabric, chemical particulates, and building materials generate dust.
How to Determine if You Have Poor Indoor Air Quality Without a Test
There are several signs that you need an indoor air quality test. Have you or someone in your household been having breathing issues? This is a sure indication that you may need to test your home environment.
Here are a few other symptoms of poor air quality to look out for:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Overly humid air
- Frequent sickness
- Congestion
- Recurring or worsening problems with allergies or asthma
- Eye irritation
- Throat irritation
What Is Indoor Air Quality Testing?
An indoor air quality test is a professionally performed assessment of the incidence of air quality issues within a home. Effectively, it’s a test to ascertain how safe the environment is for people who occupy the space. During the test, the professional assessor measures the air for mold, allergens, and chemicals.
These tests provide value for the residents. When administered by an HVAC professional, it will determine if there’s a noteworthy presence of two types of pollutants: high-risk and low-risk. Low-risk pollutants include most of the allergens and pollutants we covered in this guide. High-risk pollutants, on the other hand, include dangerous materials such as those we’ll be covering here.
Mold
An indoor air quality test will detect mold spores. While over-the-counter tests won’t specifically detect this, professional air samplers can. Air quality specialists perform air sampling, which uses a pump to force air through a device that separates the tiny mold spores from the air. A lab that performs air analysis will then determine whether there are mold spores in the air sample.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Coal, gas, engine exhaust, gas grills, and heaters produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including carcinogens. Some known VOCs that are bad for human health include propane, formaldehyde, and benzene. These are detectable by professional indoor air quality testers.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas produced by a number of devices we use in our day-to-day lives. In fact, a poorly maintained furnace can produce this dangerous gas. Anytime a combustion process doesn’t oxidize carbon atoms completely, it produces this dangerous gas byproduct. Fortunately, outside of standard detectors, indoor air quality testers can easily find this compound.
Asbestos
Asbestos is an older, naturally occurring building material that has had a ban on using it since 1989. As a result, homes that have asbestos problems tend to be on the older side. Asbestos causes mesothelioma and lung cancer. A professional needs to perform the testing for airborne asbestos fibers.
Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke is a major health risk that can lead to lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and asthma. According to the EPA, there is no safe exposure level when it comes to secondhand tobacco smoke, and it lingers in the air for hours.
Indoor Air Quality Testing’s Value
Indoor air quality testing is very valuable, especially if your home has any allergy sufferers, older individuals, pregnant women, or immuno-compromised individuals, such as those suffering from heart or lung disease. It also has a high degree of value if you live in an area of the country with a high incidence of smog and pollution. These can easily make their way into your home and pose health risks.
With an indoor air quality test, you can ascertain whether these environmental factors are posing a risk to you and your family’s health. This also means that you can take the necessary action to help improve it. Some ways to help improve your air quality will be the installation of whole-home air purifiers and the installation of humidifiers or dehumidifiers within the HVAC system.
Have an Indoor Air Quality Test Performed Today
Keeping your air clean and allergen-free is critical, especially if you suffer from allergies. A proper HVAC system, with components like air purifiers and humidity controllers, will go a long way toward protecting your indoor air. At 865 HVAC, we’ve served the Knoxville area for more than 20 years, and our focus is on reliability and helping the community. We can help with all your HVAC needs, and we provide duct cleaning services to improve your indoor air quality. We also offer 24/7 service for emergency repairs.
If you have breathing issues, contact us at 865 HVAC today so that we can test your home’s indoor air quality!
