Three Things that Could be Ruining Your Air Quality

Three Things that Could be Ruining Your Air Quality - Fresh Air Furnace - Furnace and Duct Cleaning Calgary

While we won’t always notice the quality of the air we breathe, it has an impact on our health and our comfort at home. Health issues linked to poor air quality are varied, and they can range from something as simple as headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath, to infectious diseases, sinus congestion, a scratchy throat, sneezing, and coughing. Fortunately, the experts at Fresh Air Furnace Services can examine your house’s air quality level and help determine what’s causing problems!

Your Ventilation System is Not Up to Par!

To get fresh, clean air into your home, you need a ventilation system that works properly. The air needs to be diffused effectively throughout your house, which requires unclogged vents that can both circulate air inside and exchange moist house air with fresh outdoor air. A well-maintained ventilation system will easily and effectively circulate and replace warm, damp air with fresh, clean air from outside, but a poorly maintained system could have the same stale air circulating for hours.

While your ventilation system’s first job is to simply keep the exchange of air flowing, it can also help to reduce the level of allergens, humidity, cooking smells, and other air pollutants. Your HVAC system works hard to keep you comfortable, but it needs proper care and maintenance in order to effectively reduce stale air and odours, to moderate temperature, and to prevent drafts which can cause discomfort.

There are Contaminants in the Air!

There are various reasons we may find contaminants (like toxic gasses, allergens, or spores) in your home’s air. A common cause is heating equipment such as stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces or chimneys. When these systems aren’t running quite right, they can produce carbon monoxide, which can cause headaches, fatigue, or even death if not properly ventilated. They can also emit nitrogen dioxide, which can cause respiratory issues, as well as eye, nose, and throat inflammation.

Hardwood, plywood, wall paneling, particleboard, or fiberboard are other causes of contaminants at home. If you just bought new furniture or wood products, you should expect an increase in contaminants for a while. When new, these products can emit formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen, which can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.

As for pet fur, the best thing you can do is have your animal groomed regularly, vacuum every day, and ensure your furnace filter is changed on time.

Mould in Your Home!

Your home’s humidity also indicates air quality issues. Mould grows in moist environments. If your home has excess humidity, there’s an increased risk that mould may grow on your walls, floors, and furniture. Poor air quality at home can be caused by excess moisture in the air. While it’s a common for mould to grow around sinks, tubs, or any other areas that are usually moist, a humid air will allow mould growth in less common spots. Mould is generally easy to identify; you’ll see green or black spots on some of your surfaces, as well as you’ll smell a strong, musty odor!

The air you breathe in your home will impact your health and comfort. As such, it’s essential to have clean, fresh air inside your house. Polluted, indoor air is more frequent than you may think, and it can come from many different sources. Fortunately, the experts at Fresh Air Furnaces can help! We’ll be able to test the quality of your air, and also identify whether contaminants are coming from new furniture, excess humidity and mould, or even the HVAC system itself. Contact us today to help your family breathe easier!

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