If you’re having difficulty when breathing air inside your home, then it could be a result of poor indoor air quality. According to the EPA or Environmental Protection Act, most Americans out there spend 90 per cent of their time indoors. Such is the reason why indoor air quality matters a lot in the long run.
The bad indoor air quality will affect everything – be it pets, humans and even indoor plants. It will result in cardiovascular & respiratory diseases in human beings. Therefore, the only way through which you can understand whether your home has the ideal indoor air quality is by testing it.
Why Is Good Indoor Air Quality A Must?
Indoor air quality is defined by the quality of breathable air inside your home, office or any other enclosed space. According to a professional company for a home inspection in Lithia, the reason why indoor air quality is crucial is that it can impact the health of the living things living inside a certain enclosed structure.
If the quality of air is good, then it becomes easier to breathe. However, if the air quality is bad, then it can be problematic as well as irritating to breathe. Poor indoor air quality can affect the throat, nose and eyes, causing headaches, fatigue, dizziness and so on.
Even though modern building construction tactics have improved air quality considerably over the last couple of decades, the amount of indoor pollutants has also increased. This is because most energy-efficient building materials don’t breathe well. Moreover, pesticides, personal care products, household cleaners and furnishings lead to poor indoor air quality as well.
The main pollutants include:
- Tobacco smoke
- Byproducts of combustion of fireplace wood such as carbon dioxide & carbon monoxide
- Pet hair & dander
- Mould & mildew
- VOCs
- Paints & cleaning supplies
Is It Possible To Test Your Indoor Air Quality?
Yes. The perfect way to get your indoor air quality checked is to hire a team of professionals. The main two air quality concerns nowadays are radon and mould.
- Radon
Radon can mostly be found in older homes and is a radioactive gas by nature. It’s a known carcinogenic gas. But, it’s indeed very difficult to detect. This is because it doesn’t have any taste or smell. Radon is released due to the decomposition of radioactive materials and can easily seep inside crawl spaces, basements and foundation cracks.
If you want to test your home radon levels, you can do so by purchasing a simple radon testing kit. But, we’d suggest getting in touch with a professional home inspector who can help you with a task such as this. Professionals test radon using digital radon detectors, which are more advanced and accurate than radon testing kits.
- Mould
One of the other common air pollutants is mould. Mould is very much prevalent in damp areas around your home such as attics & basements. Both dead & living mould spores can easily degrade the overall indoor air quality. The common areas that experience mould infestation are the places where there is water damage.
Thus, it’s wise to get your indoor air quality tested by professionals. These experts will collect air samples from inside of your home and thus compare the same with the normal threshold limits. After that, a mould abatement action can be undertaken.
If you’re interested to know more about indoor air quality, get in touch with our experts today.