Winter will soon be over, and it will be time to open the windows and enjoy the fresh air again. But in the meantime, the air quality of your home has likely suffered. This is a good time to consider doing an indoor air quality test.
Why should I do an indoor air quality test?
The air inside your home requires regular filtering in order to keep it clean and healthy. During the winter, windows are generally kept closed, preventing natural filtering. In addition, your furnace filter may not be able to clean everything passing through the HVAC system. Some or all of the following pollutants may be floating around in your home:
- gasses from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as shower curtains, paint, etc.
- carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide from gas ranges
- asbestos particles
- dust, dander, pollen and/or droppings
- radon
- pesticides
- mold and mildew spores
How do I test air quality?
One of the easiest ways for testing indoor air quality is to look for symptoms. If your family is suffering from headaches, sneezing, runny nose, nausea, watery eyes and/or shortness of breath while at home, then this is a good sign of pollutants. Searching for signs of mold or mildew may reveal an obvious problem, although these problems are often located within the walls or other invisible areas. Installing a CO detector will also notify you when there is an excess of carbon monoxide in the air. Checking for asbestos or radon is best performed by a professional.
There are also several indoor air quality test kits on the market which you may purchase to check for a multitude of problems. These tests include detailed instructions on how to collect a sample, which is then sent to a testing center for expert analysis. Finally, try preventative tactics, such as replacing your furnace air filter with a HEPA-certified filter. It will help to reduce minute particles in the air which a normal filter is too big to catch.
Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal has proudly served northwestern Arkansas since 1968. Contact us today for more information or schedule an appointment.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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