We\u2019re all understandably a little more sensitive to cold or flu-like symptoms these days, but what if it\u2019s the air in your home that\u2019s making you sick? According to the EPA, many cold-like symptoms can be attributed to poor indoor air quality: a runny nose, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing, etc. While you should, of course, be cautious if you or your family are experiencing these symptoms, if they linger for a long time, or appear frequently, they might be caused by pollutants in your home\u2019s air rather than germs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like germs, some people are more likely to experience symptoms from breathing in high amounts of indoor air pollutants than others. So even if one person in your house is constantly getting sick or can\u2019t stop sneezing, it still might be poor indoor air quality that\u2019s causing the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Cold Spots<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nIn a perfect world, your HVAC system will keep your entire home at the temperature you call it to on your thermostat. But heating systems and buildings are complicated things and sometimes some rooms, or even parts of rooms will stay cold while the rest of the house heats up. These are called \u2018cold spots\u2019 and in addition to being annoying and uncomfortable, they could be a sign that your HVAC has some airflow issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While there are a variety of reasons that your HVAC system is struggling to manage airflow throughout your house, it often indicates that you’re not getting adequate air filtration. Clean filters will prevent dust, pet dander, pollen, and other air pollutants from circulating through your home\u2019s ductwork. But the best filters that money can buy are only as good as the system they\u2019re installed in, so if your ductwork is leaky, clogged, or worse, too small to handle your home\u2019s heat load they won\u2019t be effective at managing your home\u2019s indoor air quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Dust Build-Up<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re interested in having nightmares, pull up a Google image search for \u201cdust mites.\u201d Dust mites are tiny, microscopic, bugs that, according to the American Lung Association<\/a>, live on dead skin cells and can cause asthma like symptoms in people who are sensitive to them. Just about every home has some dust mites as roommates, but a poorly filtered HVAC system can spread them throughout the house and keep them airborne, polluting the air we breathe indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you notice dust building up around the registers in your forced air or central AC system, that\u2019s a good sign you\u2019re breathing dust mites and that it\u2019s time to change your air filter. Sometimes dust build-ups happen just a few weeks after swapping out your filters, it could be a sign that you need to either upgrade your filters or get your ductwork cleaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Weird Smells<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nIt should go without saying that your home shouldn\u2019t smell like a basement. Damp, dank smells indicate the presence of moisture and\/or a lack of airflow, that combination can lead to mold which can be extremely harmful to your health. While mold is a worst case scenario, strange smells from your registers could also come from chemical contaminants, dust, or even pollen. Regardless, it\u2019s a good sign that your home\u2019s air quality is lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond strange stinks emanating from your HVAC, if you cook something and can still smell it a few days later, that might not be a sign of culinary excellence but an indicator that your indoor air quality is poor. Simply put: homes with good air have good ventilation. That\u2019s why newer, tighter homes, built with energy efficiency in mind, should have HVAC systems that actively circulate fresh air. Lingering smells is a classic sign that you\u2019re breathing stale air at home and that your HVAC isn\u2019t doing its job properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Dry Skin<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nDry skin is a classic symptom of living with a forced air heating system. Traditional forced air systems generate warmth through combustion, that means that even when you keep your thermostat to a reasonable 70 degrees your furnace is generating at least 170 degrees worth of heat. That intense heat zaps moisture from the air, which can result in itchy skin, dry eyes, and nose bleeds. Fortunately, homeowners with forced air oil, propane, or gas heat can install whole home humidifiers to mitigate the issue. It might be expensive, but it beats giving yourself eczema every winter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Easy Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nUltimately, the most comprehensive way to dramatically improve the air quality in your home is to upgrade your heating and cooling to a renewable source like geothermal heat pumps. Oil, gas and propane furnaces often produce dry, uncomfortable heat and leave homeowners at risk of dangerous carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly if not detected. Even small amounts can result in fatigue, chest pain, impaired vision or worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because geothermal systems transfer thermal energy instead of burning fossil fuels, they produce a heat that will keep your family warm without drying them out. Unlike conventional AC equipment, geothermal doesn\u2019t bring outside air indoors. As a result, pollutants like pollen, dust, and dirt can\u2019t impact your indoor air quality as easily. Upgrading to geothermal HVAC is one of the most impactful things you can do to support a healthier home environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you looking to improve your home’s air quality while reducing energy costs? See if your home is qualified for geothermal today!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
If you\u2019re interested in having nightmares, pull up a Google image search for \u201cdust mites.\u201d Dust mites are tiny, microscopic, bugs that, according to the American Lung Association<\/a>, live on dead skin cells and can cause asthma like symptoms in people who are sensitive to them. Just about every home has some dust mites as roommates, but a poorly filtered HVAC system can spread them throughout the house and keep them airborne, polluting the air we breathe indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you notice dust building up around the registers in your forced air or central AC system, that\u2019s a good sign you\u2019re breathing dust mites and that it\u2019s time to change your air filter. Sometimes dust build-ups happen just a few weeks after swapping out your filters, it could be a sign that you need to either upgrade your filters or get your ductwork cleaned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It should go without saying that your home shouldn\u2019t smell like a basement. Damp, dank smells indicate the presence of moisture and\/or a lack of airflow, that combination can lead to mold which can be extremely harmful to your health. While mold is a worst case scenario, strange smells from your registers could also come from chemical contaminants, dust, or even pollen. Regardless, it\u2019s a good sign that your home\u2019s air quality is lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond strange stinks emanating from your HVAC, if you cook something and can still smell it a few days later, that might not be a sign of culinary excellence but an indicator that your indoor air quality is poor. Simply put: homes with good air have good ventilation. That\u2019s why newer, tighter homes, built with energy efficiency in mind, should have HVAC systems that actively circulate fresh air. Lingering smells is a classic sign that you\u2019re breathing stale air at home and that your HVAC isn\u2019t doing its job properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dry skin is a classic symptom of living with a forced air heating system. Traditional forced air systems generate warmth through combustion, that means that even when you keep your thermostat to a reasonable 70 degrees your furnace is generating at least 170 degrees worth of heat. That intense heat zaps moisture from the air, which can result in itchy skin, dry eyes, and nose bleeds. Fortunately, homeowners with forced air oil, propane, or gas heat can install whole home humidifiers to mitigate the issue. It might be expensive, but it beats giving yourself eczema every winter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, the most comprehensive way to dramatically improve the air quality in your home is to upgrade your heating and cooling to a renewable source like geothermal heat pumps. Oil, gas and propane furnaces often produce dry, uncomfortable heat and leave homeowners at risk of dangerous carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly if not detected. Even small amounts can result in fatigue, chest pain, impaired vision or worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because geothermal systems transfer thermal energy instead of burning fossil fuels, they produce a heat that will keep your family warm without drying them out. Unlike conventional AC equipment, geothermal doesn\u2019t bring outside air indoors. As a result, pollutants like pollen, dust, and dirt can\u2019t impact your indoor air quality as easily. Upgrading to geothermal HVAC is one of the most impactful things you can do to support a healthier home environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you looking to improve your home’s air quality while reducing energy costs? See if your home is qualified for geothermal today!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n4. Weird Smells<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5. Dry Skin<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Easy Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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