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Air Quality & Energy Savings

Your home’s air quality affects more than you may think. Your home’s air quality is an important part of the health of your home and its inhabitants. The air quality of your Phoenix home is also something that affects how energy efficient your home is. When the air quality of your home is overall very poor or stifled by dust and other pollutants, your home’s air conditioning unit and heating system don’t perform as well – if even much at all. Air quality can change the way you breathe, feel and function. It can also affect the way ceiling fans perform.

Obviously, it should be a priority to make sure the air quality of your home is top notch. There are a lot of things at stake – even if you are mostly concerned about the health of everyone within the home. Take a look at a few of the things that contribute to poor air quality and the effects they have on the health of your home’s inhabitants:

Poor indoor air quality can damage the lungs of humans and pets, causing or contributing to lung diseases, cancer and asthma. It can also cause dry eye, nasal congestion and discomfort, headaches, migraines and fatigue. People tend to think these symptoms are due to health problems, but in reality, air quality can play an important role in how our bodies feel.

Air pollutants include such particles and toxins as molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, fecal particles of cockroaches, secondhand smoke (which includes over 200 known toxins), combustion pollutants from stoves, heaters and fireplaces, formaldehyde, and radon. Radon is estimated to one of the top leading causes of lung cancer in the United States. It’s a naturally occurring gas that can enter the home through cracks in the floor, drains and other openings.

All of these pollutants create an array of health reactions in humans and pets. Combustion pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are colorless and odorless gases, are especially common in homes, as they are byproducts of everyday appliances. CO inhibits oxygen entering the body, and it can create all sorts of health issues, such as headaches, migraines, dizziness and fatigue – even high levels can be fatal. NO2 can create infections in the membranes of the sinus areas.

Asbestos is another pollutant that can be found in housing materials such as roofing and insulation. Older homes have asbestos more often than newer homes.

Household pollutants are also emitted by cleaning products, personal care products, paint and craft products. These products are created with hundreds of harmful substances that should not be inhaled on a regular basis, if at all. These substances can cause illness, allergies, migraines, dizziness and cancer. It is wise to minimize contact with harmful chemicals.

Air Quality

One of the ways to diminish all of the above air pollutants in your home is to make sure all appliances you have installed are top quality and installed properly. You want your home to be tightly sealed and each appliance functioning in top shape. Another measure to take is to have an air scrubber installed. An air scrubbing system generates germicidal light waves that develop enviro-scrubbing molecules to land on surfaces in your home.  These molecules will help to disinfect up to 99% of the air in your home. They will also help to remove bacteria, allergens, odors and other types of harmful dust particles from your home’s air.

Air Quality & Energy Savings

Clean air throughout your home also helps make your home energy efficient – in the same way, an energy efficient home also helps to produce cleaner air. Regular A/C maintenance contributes to your A/C unit producing cleaner air and circulating in a healthy, efficient way. A reliable air conditioning unit with a high SEER will also create cleaner, more breathable air.

If you’re not sure if your home has top notch air quality, have a air quality expert come and inspect it. The way your air conditioning unit or heating system performs is a strong indication of how many particles and other pollutants it’s having to deal with. Other things you can do is regularly change your air filter, make sure your home is properly and adequately ventilated, and make sure your home isn’t drafty. Have your home checked for asbestos. Again, an air quality professional can help you evaluate the air quality of your home and check how things are performing.

You May Also Be Interested In:

5 Types of Air Cleaners to Keep Your Airflow Clean & Breathable

The Leading Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality

What Is an Air Scrubber & What Do They Do?