When the air in your house feels stale and stuffy, your first thought is probably to open a window. It makes sense—opening a window will let fresh air in so you can breathe easier, right?
Not necessarily.
The air outside might feel fresher than the air inside your home, but it isn’t always healthier. Outdoor air carries pollutants that can impact your indoor air quality. But indoor air can be polluted, too. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is often 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air.
So is it possible to get clean air in your house?
Absolutely. The solution is good ventilation. Bovio Rubino Service is a local family-owned business that offers professional indoor air quality services to improve your home’s ventilation and air quality. We treat our customers’ homes like we treat our own, and can help you upgrade to healthier and safer indoor air!
What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is caused by pollutants that accumulate in your home and get sucked into your HVAC system, which circulates them through your living spaces. There are many pollutants that can contribute to bad IAQ, many of which you probably have in your home right now.
Some of the most common indoor air pollutants include:
Moisture
Moisture isn’t a pollutant in and of itself, but it is the chief cause of mold growth. Mold releases spores into the air that can trigger allergies and cause health issues for you and your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are harmful gasses that are released into the air from certain products. Many common household products, including cleaning supplies, paint, air fresheners, and more, contain VOCs. Furniture and building materials like flooring and carpeting can also release VOCs. The “new car smell” new furniture tends to have is actually the smell of VOCs being released into the air.
Combustion Byproducts
Combustion appliances like furnaces, boilers, water heaters, gas stoves, woodstoves, and fireplaces can create harmful byproducts, including carbon monoxide. If they are not vented properly, these byproducts pose serious health and safety risks.
Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution
Your indoor air quality impacts your health! Bad IAQ can cause a number of symptoms, including:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
- Allergy and asthma attacks
- Respiratory diseases
How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
The best way to improve your indoor air quality is to make sure your HVAC system is properly designed, installed, and maintained. A properly functioning HVAC system will filter pollutants out while distributing clean, fresh air throughout your home.
Follow these tips to improve the ventilation and air quality in your home:
- Have your HVAC system serviced twice a year (our Maintenance Protection Plans make it easy!)
- Clean and replace HVAC air filters regularly
- Install exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
- Install an air purification system
- Install a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier
- Schedule duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning
If you’re experiencing indoor air quality issues, it’s also a good idea to have your HVAC system inspected by a professional. Bovio Rubino Service can inspect your existing HVAC system to make sure it is sized properly for your home and installed correctly. We’ll find any underlying issues that could be hurting your IAQ and recommend the right solution.
Bovio Rubino Service is a family-owned and operated business that delivers honest-to-goodness HVAC and home services. Since 1974, we’ve been helping make South Jersey homes comfortable, affordable to heat and cool, and healthy—find out why we’re 180 degrees different from any other HVAC company you’ve worked with before.
