Indoor air quality is an important thing to consider, as you may have heard. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are present in your indoor environment at a rate much higher than outdoor levels (think 10,000+ VOCs). These chemicals can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea if there are high enough concentrations of them in your home.
When we breathe these chemicals into our lungs, they can cause inflammation, leading to respiratory problems like asthma and emphysema. We explain why the stuffy feeling in your home lately might be related to poor air quality.
Dusty environment
The first sign that your home's ventilation isn't up to par is if you find yourself coughing, sneezing, and getting congested more often than usual. Dust is a byproduct of the HVAC system, and it collects on surfaces throughout the house—closets, dressers, and shelves that are rarely used can all become dust traps.
The particles in dust are small enough to wind up in your lungs, where they can cause severe respiratory problems over time. In some cases, dust may contain chemical residues from cleaners or other products used on household items that have left toxic residue behind; it's also been known to have carcinogenic properties when inhaled over long periods.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a big reason to have your HVAC system checked. Inadequate ventilation can cause your air conditioner to work harder, which increases energy consumption. This is especially true if you have a humidifier and/or an evaporative cooler installed in your home. In these cases, the humidifier will increase water vapor in the room, which means more energy will be required for cooling.
While these particular issues are not always severe enough to warrant immediate attention from an HVAC professional, they should be considered during routine inspections so that repairs or upgrades can be scheduled when needed.
High Energy Bills
It's important to remember that high energy bills do not always indicate ventilation problems. Other factors include the weather, your home's age, and design. In addition to this, some people may have more extreme variations in their utility costs than others due to a variety of conditions or circumstances. Call our HVAC professionals immediately if you experience high energy bills and suspect they may be related to poor ventilation in your home. They will be able to inspect the system and identify any potential problems.
Excess humidity
Too much humidity can lead to mold and mildew, a real problem. Mold and mildew can cause wood to rot, paint to peel, and windows to fog up, and hold moisture leading to condensation on the glass (this causes water spots) or frost build-up along windowsills. Excess moisture can also cause respiratory problems for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. If you have an older home with poor ventilation, you may notice that the walls are sweating during summer heat waves because there is so much moisture in the air coming through poorly placed vents or doors. It’s standard for homes that don’t have proper ventilation systems installed as they were built originally will often have problems with excess humidity even if they seem well insulated on paper!
Check Up Time
If you are experiencing any of these signs, having an HVAC professional check your system is a good idea.
It is important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to a lousy HVAC system; however, routine maintenance can alleviate these symptoms.
Valairco is a family-owned business that is here to help with all your HVAC needs when you call (855) 661-3300 today