The chance that poor indoor air quality is affecting you and your loved ones may be greater than you think. It may be a surprising fact to you that factors causing poor air quality have been proven to be more prevalent indoors. At a rate of 2 to 5 times greater in your home compared to outdoors, poor indoor air quality is not a worry to be taken lightly. Mold, pet dander, and pollen can all combine with volatile organic compounds to create a toxic atmosphere inside your home.
6 Types of Pollutants that Cause Poor Indoor Air Quality
- Cigarette Smoke – While it is no secret that a smoking habit causes many health issues, it is especially important to keep this danger from infiltrating your indoor space. There are over 200 different toxic substances in cigarette smoke that can seep into your furniture and carpeting. This is especially dangerous for children, whose lungs are very susceptible to developing airborne sickness and disease.
- Mold and Mildew – Any level of mold and mildew is dangerous and will cause poor indoor air quality. While often more of a problem in humid St. Louis summers, during any month of the year excessive moisture in the air can cause dangerous spores to grow.
- Formaldehyde – Found in upholstery, carpeting, and plywood, this chemical is commonplace in an average home and one of the leading causes of poor indoor air quality.
- Cleaning Supplies – Keeping a clean home is important, though what many may not realize are the risks that come from using common household cleaning supplies. Read labels carefully, and consider using organic and natural cleaning solutions to combat this common problem.
- Polyurethane – This chemical is what is known as a respiratory toxin. Commonly found in products that protect your wood furniture from water damage, it is one of the leading causes of poor indoor air quality.
- Pollen, Cockroaches, and Dust Mites – These organic threats can float around in your air and scurry on your floors causing airborne disease, illness, and overall poor indoor air quality. Removing unnecessary clutter and keeping a clean space will minimize the impact these may cause on your health.
In addition to the presence of the factors above, poor indoor air quality is greatly increased by poor ventilation in your home. Counteracting this factor may be as simple as checking the filter in your current HVAC system. Additionally, even in the colder months, it is still important to occasionally open your windows allowing fresh air to circulate throughout your home. This will prevent your indoor air from becoming stagnant and may help to flush out unwanted toxins and pollutants in your air.
Contact Us to Improve Poor Indoor Air Quality
In the St. Louis area, Galmiche & Sons has been working to combat poor indoor air quality for generations. Our HVAC system specialists are on call with unmatched heating and air conditioning expertise to provide your home with the cleanest air quality possible. Whether you are looking to upgrade your current HVAC system or just looking for ways to improve indoor air quality, leave it to us to get the job done right!
