Can Poor Indoor Air Quality Make You Sick?

Breathing is what keeps us alive, but what if the air you breathe inside your home is actually making you sick? Maintaining clean indoor air quality (IAQ) is just as important as doing the dishes or cleaning your bathroom. In fact, if you haven’t been maintaining good IAQ, you may be feeling the effects.

Poor IAQ can cause a variety of illnesses and unpleasant symptoms. What’s more frustrating than the illness itself is the absence of a clear cause. However, at Skelton’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we are familiar with all the signs and symptoms of poor IAQ in Birmingham. More importantly, we know how to help you start feeling better by tackling the root of the sickness.

What Are Some Poor Air Quality Symptoms?

Not all illness is caused by poor IAQ, but you may be surprised at the number of symptoms that are caused by indoor air pollutants. Your home’s IAQ may need some extra attention if you’re frequently feeling any of the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Sore/scratchy throat
• Skin irritation
• Runny/stuffy nose
• Cough
• Nausea
• Itchy/watery eyes

Experiencing all of these symptoms is normal to some extent. Everyone gets sick every now and then. However, if you or a loved one feels sick chronically, or you and your family frequently experience cold and flu symptoms, your IAQ may be to blame.

How Can My Home’s Air Lead To All Those Symptoms?

You may be surprised at the variety of negative health effects of IAQ. You should be able to just breathe without thinking, right? While this is true, it may take some work to keep your home’s IAQ pure and harmless to breathe. The first step toward better air quality is assessing which of the following factors may be causing your IAQ-induced sickness:

• Mold
• Bacteria/viruses
• Chemicals
• Pesticides
• Dust
• Carbon Monoxide
• Poor ventilation
• Dirty air filter
• High humidity

It’s not uncommon for homes to have one or more of these factors contributing to the quality of the air. As pollutants circulate throughout your home, they easily enter your body and lead to health issues. Certain pollutants can be dangerous, especially carbon monoxide which can actually take your life if you aren’t careful. This is why it’s so important to make sure your home has good IAQ.

A simple way to improve your home’s air quality is to replace your home’s air filter. Dust and dirt easily build up in the filter, contaminating the air that circulates throughout your home. At Skelton’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we recommend replacing your home’s air filter at least once a year. However, this action won’t solve everything. Reaching out to Birmingham air quality experts is the only way you can truly figure out what’s causing your home’s poor air quality and take the required steps to improve it.

Restoring Healthier Air For A Healthier You

Do you think your home’s IAQ might be to blame for your health troubles? We have your back. Hiring an expert from Skelton’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is a great way to determine the quality of your home’s air. Our technicians are familiar with all the common pollutants of Birmingham homes. We provide top-notch air quality services that will help you and your family breathe a sigh of relief — and stay healthy while doing it!