Air pollution is a hot-button controversy today, and the connection between air quality and health is becoming more obvious to most people. If you are raising a family, keeping up with current news about air pollution might be important to you. However, you may be ignoring another pollution issue in your very own home: the quality of the indoor air. Poor indoor air quality can be dangerous, and there are several reasons why having it checked might be an important factor in the health of your family.
1. Elevated Radon Levels
While radon gas is present in low levels in many areas, it is usually in the soil, where it does not always affect air quality. However, radon can also be present indoors, particularly in lower levels of your home, such as your basement. If you have a basement room set up for one of your children or use it as your laundry space, you may be inhaling unsafe amounts of this gas. An indoor air quality check can help measure radon levels and identify whether you are at risk.
2. Asbestos Check
If you live in an older home, you may want to consider having an indoor air quality check performed to check for the presence of asbestos. This fiber is a known carcinogen and is typically not used in home construction today. However, your older home may contain it in its insulation, and when disturbed, it can get into the air and cause mesothelioma, a type of deadly lung cancer, with long-term exposure. Asbestos is most commonly found in attics and ceilings.
3. Hidden Mold
There are many different species of mold that can invade your home, especially when the weather turns wet and humid. Mold can grow unseen in the back of kitchen cabinets under the sink, in the grout of your shower tiles, and in your basement. If left unchecked, mold spores can enter the air through HVAC ducts and enter the air you and your family breathe. Some types of mold can trigger allergy attacks and even cause breathing problems in those with sensitivity.
An indoor air quality check can identify whether you have a mold problem. For example, a company that offers such services, such as JNJ heating, could help you identify the source of the mold and whether it might be having a negative effect on your home’s air. They may also be able to provide you with solutions that can improve indoor air quality and help prevent future mold growth.
4. Pest Presence
The quality of your home’s air can be affected by dust mites, cockroach feces, and allergenic triggers left by visiting rodent pests. Many of these elements may not be visible to the naked eye, but they can cause sneezing, skin allergies, and breathing problems, especially in children. A company that tests indoor air quality can let you know if these pests might be causing problems with the air you breathe and what steps you can take to solve the problem.
The quality of the indoor air you breathe can affect your overall health and well-being. Having an indoor air quality check performed may help you improve your home’s air and keep certain health issues at bay.