Modern homes are well sealed to keep heating and cooling indoors. While this improves energy efficiency, inadequate fresh air, indoor contaminants and nonstop recirculation can lead to problems.
Don’t worry, though, because Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can help you have an energy-efficient home that’s also comfortable. Our services include an air quality audit, air duct cleaning and products to help improve indoor air quality in Greater Richmond, Virginia.
Call us at 804-302-6657 today to start refreshing your home’s indoor air quality.
Clues Your Home Has Poor Indoor Air Quality
Is your indoor air healthy? It may not be as clean as you think. Pollution is often two to five times more concentrated indoors than outdoors, as stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Indoor air pollutants floating in your home’s air can result in headaches and allergy symptoms. And mold and mildew can trigger a number of health problems.
Health Problems
While these symptoms may be a consequence of other issues, they can also be indicative your home is struggling with indoor air quality (IAQ) problems. This is particularly true if you feel normal again while you’re out of the house.
- Dry eyes, nose, throat or skin
- Headaches and sinus irritation
- Fatigue
- Allergies or asthma symptoms that are more severe than usual
- Coughing and sneezing
- Dizziness or nausea
Environmental Problems
An outdated heating and cooling system will sometimes be worsening indoor air quality problems, especially if it’s unable to filter air, balance humidity or keep temperatures consistent.
Here are some other signs you might need to purify your indoor air:
- Excessive static or mold growth
- Excessive dust
- Stale or musty odors
How Can I Prevent Indoor Air Quality Problems?
Preventing indoor air quality problems can be fairly straightforward with these 10 simple tips:
- Plan an indoor air quality audit with Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. We’ll evaluate areas that influence air quality, including humidity, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Then we’ll walk you through problems we find and how you can fix them.
- Clean regularly to reduce dust mites, which can aggravate allergies and asthma.
- Clear your home of secondhand smoke.
- Use a whole-home filtration system to get rid of odors, as opposed to hiding them with air fresheners or strong candles. The pollutants include chemicals that can trigger headaches or aggravate respiratory symptoms.
- Ventilate gas-burning appliances, including stoves and water heaters, outside.
- Keep your home’s humidity levels balanced with a humidifier or dehumidifier, based on your needs. Set humidity under 50% to impede mold and mildew spread.
- Check your home for radon. Long-term exposure to this invisible radioactive gas is the number one cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers, according to the EPA. You can get a radon test kit online or contact your state radon program for information on discounted or free kits.
- Implement a ventilation system to replace contaminated indoor air with fresh air from outside.
- Find natural cleaning and painting materials that are low in or free of VOCs. High levels of VOCs can worsen symptoms for family members with respiratory illnesses.
- Place carbon monoxide detectors close to bedrooms.
Start Cleaning Your Air Today with Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
With a full roster of NATE-certified professionals and indoor air quality solutions, Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can help your family breathe much easier. Call us at 804-302-6657 or contact us online today to begin.