Unpleasant or unusual odors often indicate underlying issues, such as spoiled food or a leaking pipe. Additionally, indicators of subpar indoor air quality (IAQ) can manifest through health-related symptoms and reactions:

Irritated sinuses
Exhaustion
Headaches and vertigo
Respiratory ailments
Increased occurrences of allergies/asthma attacks

These discomforts may suggest the presence of accumulated dust or mold growth in hidden spaces, such as beneath carpets or behind wallpaper.

How to Assess Air Quality at Home

Installing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms is highly advisable, particularly as CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can pose serious risks, even leading to fatalities. Moreover, you can acquire an air quality monitor, an electronic device designed to measure and report pollution levels in your living space.

Maintaining an IAQ testing checklist can also help you remember essential tasks, including periodic checks and battery replacements for alarms.

Various Types of Indoor Air Pollutants

In contrast to noticeable odors, certain dangerous indoor gasses lack any distinct smell. Let’s delve into several common pollutants, both aromatic and odorless.

Tobacco Smoke: Eliminating cigarette odors from your home is essential not solely due to their scent. Exposure to secondhand smoke can result in numerous health and respiratory issues, such as ear infections and heightened asthma attacks, which can easily permeate and linger within your residence.

Household Products: A glance at the labels of common household items often reveals warnings about their toxicity levels. Cleaners, disinfectants, and pesticides all emit gasses into the air that can cause short- and long-term health complications.

Be cautious not to overlook air fresheners. These products may offer pleasant scents, but many contain chemical compounds like formaldehyde, a lung-irritating carcinogen posing health risks.

Gaseous Emissions: Gas stoves, fireplaces, and even candles can easily be underestimated as potential sources of indoor pollution. Any fuel-burning or combustion appliance within the home can release gasses like carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) into the air.

Radioactive gas radon (Rn) can also infiltrate homes. Naturally occurring in the ground, Rn can enter houses through cracks and gaps in basements. Like CO, radon is colorless and odorless, making detection without a radon inspector challenging.

Building Materials: When planning home improvement projects, take all housing materials into consideration. Specific carpet installations, paints, wall insulations, and pressed wood products can emit hazardous chemicals into the air, including:

Asbestos
Lead
Formaldehyde
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Mold

Mold spores thrive in damp areas and locations with moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Inhaling mold, even if unseen, can trigger allergic reactions and lung infections over prolonged exposure.

In addition to health implications, addressing mold issues can be costly, with an average mold remediation cost of $2,215.

Biological Contaminants: Biological contaminants, originating from animals or living organisms, contribute to health problems and are consistently present in our surroundings.

Our cherished pets shed dander and attract bacteria-carrying insects like fleas indoors. Likewise, pollen, dust mites, and viruses find their way into our homes via clothing and footwear.

How Can I Improve My Air Quality at Home?

Making an effort to improve indoor air quality can help you avoid asthma flare-ups and allergy symptoms and keep you breathing easy through the colder months.

While it’s probably not possible to eliminate all the allergens inside your home, you can reduce the number — and your exposure to them — by making some simple changes. Here are some strategies you can use to improve air quality inside your home and hopefully improve your allergy symptoms.

Keep it clean. A clean house may be a healthier house, because good indoor hygiene can greatly cut down on dust and animal dander, says Dr. BuSaba. Your cleaning efforts should focus on strategies to reduce the accumulation of pet dander, mold, and dust lurking in your home. Focus on the following:

Vacuuming the carpets and area rugs at least once or twice a week with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. Opting for hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting may also cut down on allergens in the home.

Regularly cleaning bedding, drapes, and other items that tend to attract allergens—particularly if you have pets. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends washing in water that is at least 130° F. Also consider using dust mite–proof covers on pillows, as well as mattresses and box springs, whenever possible.

Clearing clutter, because it traps and holds dust that can trigger a reaction.

Keep the greenery outdoors. Indoor plants are pretty, but they can also collect and foster the growth of mold. So, if indoor allergens are a problem, you’ll want to avoid them. While some plants are touted as helping to improve indoor air quality because they release oxygen, they are still allergy triggers for many people.

Change your filters. If you have a forced-air heating system, be certain to change the filters regularly. Electrostatic filters can help ensure that dust and other airborne irritants get trapped instead of being recirculated throughout your home.

Also consider having your ducts cleaned to remove trapped dust. This may not always be advisable, but it helps in some cases. The Environmental Protection Agency offers advice on making this decision at /iaq.

Invest in an air purifier. If you’re allergic to indoor allergens and can’t control the source of the problem — for example, you’re unwilling to give up your family pet — it may help to use an air purifier. Placed in the most commonly used areas of the house, these devices, in particular ionic purifiers, can help capture some of the irritants that may trigger your symptoms. You’re probably not going to be able to remove these allergens completely, but you can cut down on them, which may help the problem.

Also consider a dehumidifier in damp areas, such as a basement, to help prevent the growth of mold. Ensure that bathrooms, another potential source of mold, are well ventilated as well and scrub off any visible mold that collects in the shower, on fixtures, or walls.

Let the fresh air in. Even in the cold months, open windows from time to time to allow fresh air to move into the house. Also, move potential air contaminants out by using fans in the kitchen to remove cooking fumes.

Air Conditioning Unit Replacement and Service in Cleveland, TX

In Texas, our air conditioning systems work tirelessly to provide cool air for most of the year. If you notice warm air coming from your AC unit or your fan fails to blow cold air, it may be time for an air conditioning repair. Additionally, if you haven’t had your HVAC system inspected and serviced in the past 12 months, it’s overdue for a tune-up. Our routine maintenance includes a thorough inspection of your indoor unit, ductwork, and outdoor unit.

If you desire a reliable air conditioner throughout the summer, contact the team at Arrow Comfort for all your air conditioning and heating needs.

About Arrow Comfort AC and Heating

With over 20 years of experience, Arrow Comfort LLC has been providing quality HVAC services to Cleveland, Dayton, Liberty Texas, and the surrounding areas. We specialize in affordable air conditioning and heating services, repairs, and installations. Our team of HVAC technicians works in both residential and commercial settings, helping you achieve climate control in your home or business. Reach out to us today to learn more about our air conditioning and heating services.

Arrow Comfort LLC
2508 FM 1725,
Cleveland, TX 77328
832-579-6487
View our Google Business Listing