The air quality of your home might not be something you think about often, but it is definitely something that can make you and your family members ill. Here are some signs that you need to check and improve the quality of air in your home.
Your Allergy Symptoms Are Worsening
If you or someone else in your home is suddenly experiencing a fluctuation in allergy symptoms, even though the climate or season hasn't changed, it might be due to the air inside your home. Poor air quality is often linked to dust, dander, and debris that is being released into your air supply. This in turn can cause a lot of allergy symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, runny rose, and watery eyes. If your doctor can't find another reason for the peak in symptoms, it may just have to do with your home.
You Have Lung or Breathing Issues
In addition to the allergy-related symptoms, you might also notice other health issues when the air quality is poor inside your home. If you are having trouble breathing or feel like your lungs are inflamed or painful, this could be from poor air quality. This is typically from breathing in too many airborne particles. It is often related to a ducted air conditioner. You can try changing the air filter in your HVAC system to find out if that is the problem, then look into having the ducts cleaned.
Mould is Growing in Your Home
If you have noticed signs of mould or mildew growing in your home, this might be connected to poor air quality. Mould growth is often from high humidity, which happens to be another sign you may have air quality problems. With mildew, you can usually smell it early on when it develops, as it has a musty smell to it. You may also notice that there is moisture around different areas of your home, such as the walls or floors. If you notice green or black spots on various surfaces, this is mould growth and definitely should not be ignored.
Pets Keep Getting Ill
Something people don't often associate with poor air quality is the health of their pets. Pay attention to your dogs and cats as you may notice they aren't themselves. You may have a dog that suddenly seems to be coughing more than usual, or a cat that doesn't spend much time indoors anymore. These are signs that they are starting to feel ill inside as a result of the air quality.
