Three ways poor air quality can affect your health

You work hard all year to make sure your family is taken care of all year round. We all work hard for food, water, and shelter. But people rarely consider the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ)--and the HVAC system that typically regulates IAQ--on quality of life.

The air you breathe at home can significantly impact your health and well-being. Today, we’re going to talk about different health issues that poor IAQ can cause or aggravate.

Allergies and asthma

Poor IAQ can trigger or aggravate allergic reactions and asthma attacks, as well as other respiratory conditions. Common indoor allergens and irritants include dust mites, mold, pollen, pet dander, tobacco smoke, and chemical fumes. These can cause symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

This might all sound pretty bad, but the good news is your HVAC system, in all likelihood, has the ability to run a filter that can reduce the levels of many of those pollutants throughout your home. Check with your owners guide or a knowledgeable HVAC technician, but many HVAC systems can run filters up to MERV 12, which provide a great degree of filtration (if you change your filter regularly, that is).

Eye, nose, and throat irritation

These kind of go with allergies and asthma, but poor IAQ can also irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, causing dryness, itching, burning, or inflammation. These can affect your vision, smell, taste, and speech, as well as your comfort and appearance. 

Skin problems

When you think of IAQ, it’s normal to think of pollutants and allergens in the air, but good humidity levels are also critical for maintaining good-quality air. Low humidity, high humidity, high temperatures, and exposure to allergens, irritants, or pathogens can affect the health of your skin and cause dryness, itching, rashes, or eczema.



Your HVAC system is crucial to maintaining a comfortable and healthy humidity level and temperature in your home (in addition to filtering pollutants, as discussed above). Just another reason to make sure your system is well-cared for and maintained!

Conclusion

One of the best ways to maintain air quality in your home is to hire a professional HVAC company to inspect, maintain, and repair your heating and cooling systems.

At All Hours Heating and Air, we are your trusted HVAC experts in Wendell, NC. We have the experience, skills, and equipment to handle all your HVAC needs, from installation and replacement to maintenance and repair. We can help you improve your IAQ by:

• Cleaning and replacing your air filters regularly
• Sealing and insulating your ducts and vents
• Checking and adjusting your thermostat and airflow
• Making sure your system is working efficiently
• Making sure all your parts are clean and healthy

We also offer emergency service and are committed to providing you with the best HVAC service and customer satisfaction in Wendell, North Carolina, so you never have to get by with uncomfortable and unhealthy air.

Give us a call!