June 18, 2021
If you think that spending a majority of your time indoors makes you least likely to face health risks triggered by exposure to pollutants, you’re wrong. Whether you are at home, the office, a gym or at the restaurant; you cannot escape common pollutants like mold spores, allergens, breathable particles and toxic emissions coming from cleaning products, flooring, furniture, home furnishings, paint, building materials and textiles. Many factors determine your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) which can have immediate health effects like headaches, throat irritation, allergies, respiratory congestion, eye infections, nosebleeds, nausea and asthma. Summer triggers significant changes in the temperature which forces your HVAC unit to work extra and this can adversely affect your indoor air quality. Here’s how:
Every summer, your HVAC unit has to put in extra effort to create a cool and conducive environment indoors. This surplus load requires your air filters to sift a lot of dust and dirt. If your air filters are not checked for cleaning regularly, there is a good chance of clogging due to the accumulation of unwanted debris. Congested air filters will, in turn, compel your HVAC unit to work harder and circulate fresh air through all the collected filth.
When the outdoor temperature is too high, humidity levels tend to rise in your home and this can adversely impact your IAQ. High levels of humidity encourage the growth of mold in the house and will trigger a host of health problems like respiratory congestion, sinus, and sneezing. Higher levels of humidity can also cause sleep disturbances and promote the growth of dust mites in areas that tend to remain moist like the basement, bathroom and the kitchen. You can consider buying a dehumidifier if you are running into prolonged humidity problems.
Pets tend to shed a lot during hot summers so if you have a lot of pet hair in and around your home, it can affect your IAQ and trigger allergies. Dust mites are also a common problem in summer and they too provoke infections and allergies. Regular dusting and sweeping will keep pollutants away and improve your IAQ. Grooming your pets and brushing them on a daily basis will also keep the air clean.
Scheduling a periodic tune-up for your HVAC system will ensure that every component of your unit is running smoothly even with extreme temperature changes.
Have all your indoor air quality concerns addressed by our trained and qualified technicians at 925-444-4444. Service Champions remains open 7 days a week to dispatch indoor air quality specialists across Northern California.