Indoor Air Quality and Health
The topic of air quality tends to come up mostly related to the air outside. When there are wildfires burning, for example, or when smog settles over a big city, there are headlines about air quality all over the news. Those air quality concerns are certainly worthwhile, but it would be a mistake to overlook the role that indoor air quality plays in the health of human beings.
We’d like to take a closer look at that important topic in this article. AdvantaClean offers a range of services that can help to address air quality issues, but you first need to understand why that’s important and what it can mean for you and everyone else who spends time in the indoor space in question.
If you are ready to get started with some treatments that can help with air quality – like air duct cleaning – AdvantaClean is ready to serve you. We are leaders in Winston mold testing and countless other services, and you can be sure that our team is always up to any challenge. Take a moment to reach out today and let’s get started.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters
Most people spend more time indoors than outdoors – that’s just a reality of modern life. When talking about your home, you are going to spend a good chunk of time sleeping in the space each night and will take countless breaths in and out while resting. Even if the indoor space in question is an office or another type of workspace, spending eight to nine hours per day in that building is common.
When you add it all up, you are breathing in a ton of indoor air. If that air is not clean, you’ll be bringing pollutants and contaminants into your body that could do significant harm. Some of the harms are relatively minor, yet impactful on your daily life. These include things like eye irritation, sore throat, or an itchy nose. You and others might also deal with headaches, ongoing fatigue, and persistent symptoms that mimic a cold.
Even worse, there are plenty of very serious health issues that can be related to poor air quality. These are things like advanced respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer. So the stakes are high in both the short and long term, and it’s important to pay attention to air quality to make sure you and your family or employees are kept safe while breathing indoor air.
A Few Potential Problems
Indoor air quality issues can arise for a number of reasons. Even if the air seems to smell fine, it’s possible that it isn’t as clean as it should be, and there might be dangers that exist without you even knowing anything is wrong. Some of the potential problems you might be facing include the following –
● Mold growth. This is perhaps the most pressing concern when it comes to air quality in a home or office. If there are water problems – such as flooding in the basement or a leak behind a wall – it is quite likely that mold will grow in those dark areas. And, when mold grows, the spores are sure to be spread around the indoor space, where they will be inhaled by anyone in the building. High mold levels can directly lead to many health problems, and the growing mold can also do damage to the structure itself. It’s critical to get professional help with this problem as soon as it is discovered or even suspected.
● Humidity: Excess humidity within your indoor environment can be a silent yet formidable adversary and can contribute to and exacerbate some of the other issues. It provides the perfect breeding ground for mold, dust mites, and a host of other allergens, creating an environment that is less than ideal for both your health and overall comfort. When humidity is left unchecked, it can lead to an uncomfortable, clammy indoor atmosphere, making your space less inviting. It can also interfere with your body's natural cooling process through evaporation, causing you to feel warmer than the actual temperature. This can result in higher energy bills as you overcompensate with air conditioning, impacting both your wallet and the environment.
● Dust accumulation. For the most part, dust seems pretty innocent, if not annoying to deal with around the house. However, breathing in a lot of dust day after day can be damaging to your respiratory health. Often, high levels of dust building up on surfaces point to issues with the HVAC system that need to be addressed right away. Once the problem is solved, you’ll find that the air feels better to breathe, some health issues might clear up, and you should be able to enjoy living in a cleaner home as well.
Get Professional Help
There are some minor steps you can take on your own to address indoor air quality issues, and those can be somewhat helpful. However, for significant, impactful improvement, it’s going to be necessary to work with professionals on this job.
The exact services you need to enlist will depend on the problems faced in your building. A home or office with moisture problems needs to deal with any mold that is growing, as well as doing work to prevent those water problems from continuing. Or, if it is dust that seems to be your main enemy, having the air ducts of the HVAC system properly cleaned will cut down dramatically on the issue and instantly improve air quality.
AdvantaClean is the Easy Choice
With a clear understanding of the risks of poor indoor air quality, you may now feel some urgency to address this matter in your home or business. With AdvantaClean on your side, you can work on important issues like moisture control and mold testing to confirm that the air in your building is safe to breathe day after day. Have questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch and our team will be happy to assist.