Needless to mention, breath is one of the major differences between being alive and dead. Forgive the harsh starter, but essentially, your body depends on oxygen from the air you breathe to accomplish a myriad of vital biological and biochemical functions. However, the air we get from the environment may contain certain levels of pollutants and contaminants that may affect your health in various ways in addition to affecting your respiratory system. This is called poor quality air, which can have a myriad of negative effects; from affecting your comfort levels to affecting the efficiency of your appliances, and increasing your household utility bills.
It is important to note that indoor air quality problems may arise from various causes and the type of contaminant may depend on the cause. In addition to poor ventilation, poor indoor air quality may be caused by indoor air contaminants such as mold, dust, vapors from household chemicals, fumes from the kitchen, and so forth. A majority of contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and fungi, however, originate from outdoor air as it passes into your house through the HVAC unit or ventilation system. They end up lowering the quality of air circulating in your house, which can have several negative consequences as will be discussed below. As explained by the guys at Filter Buy, it’s important to ensure the air coming into your home passes through an air filter so you can protect your family as well as your property. Home air filters come in a wide variety of types and sizes; including 1-inch, 2-inch, 4-inch, and whole-house brands, so you’ll want to make sure you choose the best size for your home based on your requirements.
This having been mentioned, here are a few reasons why home air quality is so important.
Indoor Health
The air that goes down your windpipe can have a huge impact on your health. This is especially the case for people with respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. If the air circulating in your home is laden with contaminants such as mold spores, pollen, dust, and pet dander, people with respiratory illnesses may experience worsened symptoms. Smoke, pest debris, VOCs, and other allergens in indoor air may also trigger asthma attacks and respiratory irritations. As a matter of fact, some of these allergens and contaminants may cause irritations that mimic allergy symptoms even to otherwise-individual healthy people without pre-existing respiratory issues. Moreover, other allergens like airborne cockroach debris may also cause long-term health issues such as the development of asthma in young children and cardiovascular issues in adults.
Protecting Your HVAC System
Poor home air quality may also affect the functioning, reliability, and longevity of household systems such as furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. If your indoor air is highly contaminated, some of these particles may find their way into the crucial components of HVAC systems. As the debris builds up on components such as the evaporator coil, the effectiveness of the heating and cooling system is affected. It ends up working harder to keep your home cool or warm, leading to increased wear and tear. Without proper ventilation and regular air filter changes, you may even have to replace the entire HVAC system early before the end of its lifespan.
Energy Usage
Home air quality can also have an impact on your monthly energy bills. For starters, air filters in heating and cooling systems tend to get dirty and clogged faster if the indoor air is too contaminated by the aforementioned particles. As your HVAC unit struggles to keep you comfortable, it becomes less efficient and ends up consuming more energy, thus spiking your utility bills. This is the other reason why it is advisable to keep your HVAC clean and change the air filter at least once a month or twice every season. It improves airflow and maximizes your HVAC unit’s efficiency. It also ensures that no clogs of debris on your ductwork will be blown into your home along with cool or warm air, thus keeping the quality of indoor air high and comfort levels optimal.
No one wants to live in a house that is laden with musty and unpleasant odors. Keeping the humidity levels in your home balanced can help ensure your home smells fresh and clean. It is important to ensure that your home’s air is clean and fresh at all times. As a matter of fact, breathing in fresh air is calming and refreshing to the mind, body, and spirit.
