Indoor air quality is a very important part of home comfort and health, and yet the quality of their house’s indoor air is often a complete mystery to homeowners.
Did you know that the Harrisburg-York-Lebanon metro area of Pennsylvania ranks in the top 25 worst areas in the United States for annual particle pollution?
If you’re a homeowner in Central Pennsylvania, you have real reason to keep that potentially harmful outdoor air outside of your home. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that affect indoor air quality, as well as steps you can take to improve air quality in your basement, attic, and throughout your entire home.
Signs You May Have Poor Indoor Air Quality
Are you suffering from any of the following? You could be suffering from IAQ issues!
Musty, moldy smells
Visible mold
Visible water buildup
Health symptoms like headache, sore throat, dizziness, and fatigue
Humidity and Mold Control
Indoor humidity allows harmful mold to grow, which can affect your health and the overall comfort in your home. Humidity collects as a result of outdoor air getting inside, or moisture that is allowed ti infiltrate the nooks and crannies of a home. Upgrading your insulation and air sealing can help create a tighter air boundary between your living space and the outdoors, and get rid of the moisture in homes causing mold.
Reducing Indoor Chemicals and VOCs
Other potentially harmful contributors to poor indoor air quality include the pollution risks coming from inside your home. How many of the following pollutants could be in your breathing air?
Cleaning products (VOCs)
Pet dander (Allergies)
Pesticides
Furniture (Formaldehyde)
Faulty Combustion Heating (Carbon Monoxide)
The risk of being affected by these pollutants can be mitigated with proper home ventilation, humidity control, HVAC system maintenance, regular house cleaning, and more.
How to Test Your Indoor Air Quality Today with Energy Smart
The best way to find out the effect your indoor air could be having on your health is by scheduling indoor air quality testing with Energy Smart Home Improvement. Our tests include both visual and diagnostic testing with monitors. We can identify airborne contaminants and pollutants like:
Mold and moisture
Chemicals and VOCs
Dust, pollen, and smoke
Carbon monoxide
Testing the air quality in your home can lead to dramatic improvements in home comfort, and combining a home energy audit with indoor air quality testing for Harrisburg and Central PA homes will allow you to analyze your whole home performance and decrease your energy costs at the same time you clean up the air you breathe!