Indoor Air Quality

People usually spend more time indoors, at home and at work, than they do outdoors, so it’s very important to make sure that the air we’re breathing when we’re inside is healthy and clean. Because of the enclosed environment indoors, there are many sources of potential contamination that could reduce the quality of the air we breathe in those spaces. For some environments, it may be beneficial to install an air filtration system with your air conditioning to help clean the air. However, it may not be obvious whether you need one or not. Unlike the dust accumulation on furniture, dust, or other airborne hazards, can accumulate in the air without your being able to notice it. So here are a few potential sources of airborne hazards you should consider when thinking about the air quality in your home or office.

Smoking

Smoking indoors will release the many chemicals in second-hand smoke into the indoor environment, which will then circulate through the ventilation system. This is one of the biggest sources for lowering the quality of indoor air. If you smoke, try to smoke outside where the smoke can dissipate into the atmosphere.

Humidity

If your home or office regularly experiences periods of high humidity, it can create an environment in which mold will be more likely to grow. Mold reproduces by shooting out microscopic spores into the air. These spores can float around in the air and be spread throughout the indoor space until it either attaches to a surface where it can grow and continue to reproduce, or someone breathes it in. Try to keep the humidity down so that mold doesn’t grow.

Leaking

Like general humidity, any leaks can cause moisture to accumulate, which will make the environment more conducive for mold growth. Any time mold can grow, its spores will get into the air. This can be a hazardous environment for anyone with allergies, as well as for anyone who breathes in too much mold.

Garage

If the garage is attached to the home, or if the parking lot of the office shares windows or doorways with the interior space, then the air of the garage will mix with the indoor air. Cars and other gas-burning equipment are often in garages, and those kind of equipment produce carbon monoxide, which can be a harmful chemical, especially if it rises to elevated levels or is breathed continuously because of poor ventilation.

Chemicals

Cleaning chemicals, pesticides for the garden, and even air-freshening devices all contain chemicals that can be harmful if too much is inhaled. Even chemicals simply being stored may give off harmful chemicals by outgassing or even just by evaporation. As these chemicals accumulate in the indoor space, the air can become more and more hazardous.

There are many potential sources for breathing hazards in indoor spaces. Although proper storage of chemicals and other safety measures can help reduce pollutants, it’s also important to have a ventilation or filtration system that helps capture and reduce these compounds once they get in the air. All Day Air Cooling and Heating offers House Filtration systems and services that can help you breathe easier in your home or office. If you have any concerns about allergies or even if you just want the peace of mind of knowing your home’s air is clean and breathable, be sure to call All Day Air Cooling and Heating today at (239) 357-0727.