When the topic of poor air quality comes up we tend to envision factories with billowing smokestacks or smog-covered city skylines. However, indoor air quality can be significantly worse than the air outdoors. This is because newer homes in Saint Johns, FL tend to be sealed up tight to maximize efficiency.

Signs Your Home’s Air Quality Needs Help

Symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality depend on the cause and severity of the problem. The amount of exposure you experience is another factor. These symptoms can vary greatly and often mimic those of everyday illnesses like the common cold or the flu. Fortunately, these symptoms usually disappear shortly after leaving the affected building or space. Such symptoms include:

• Chronic headaches, dizziness, and nausea
• Fatigue or shortness of breath
• Irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, or skin
• Hypersensitivity and allergic reactions
• Sinus congestion, coughing, and sneezing

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects

The issues listed above are mainly acute manifestations of short-term exposure to airborne contaminants. Unfortunately, the results of prolonged or long-term exposure to certain pollutants can be far worse. Such exposure has been linked to heart and lung disease, various kinds of cancer, damage to the central nervous system, and respiratory disorders.

Sources of Poor IAQ

Poor indoor air quality can come from an extremely wide variety of sources. So many, in fact, that they can’t all be listed here. However, the following list includes common causes that will give you an idea what to look for:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – These pollutants are released as vapors from countless household items including cleaning products, gasoline, paints, adhesives, and many more.
• Combustion pollutants – These include carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which come from burning various items or products like cigarettes, fuels for appliances, or candles.
• Particulate Matter – This category includes any particles of a liquid or a solid that is light enough to remain airborne, including, dust, pollen, dander, and other, much smaller particles.

Effective Indoor Air Quality Solutions

At Willman Air we carry and install products that can correct your IAQ woes. These include ventilators, air cleaners, and dehumidifiers. Get in touch with our experts today for help finding the right solutions for your home’s air quality issues.