4 Unexpected Things that Affect Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality plays a huge part in your overall health. Americans spend an unbelievable 90% of our lives indoors, and more in areas where weather makes outdoor conditions prohibitively cold or hot. It should come as no surprise that the quality of the air we breathe indoors affects everything from our respiratory systems to our hormones to our sleep.MTB Mechanical has helped thousands of Charlotteans breathe cleaner air indoors. Our solutions tackle some of the toughest indoor air quality issues, from pollen to pet dander. It’s easy to guess allergens like these might make it harder to breathe, but what about unexpected air quality threats?
Here are four things you might not realize are affecting the quality of the air you breathe.
1. Nearby Construction
Charlotte is a city of change. Few neighborhoods, from walkable MUD developments to sprawling planned communities, aren’t undergoing some kind of construction at the moment. Even home renovations can cause big breathing problems for homeowners. When construction takes place, particulates like dirt, drywall, and dust are kicked up; many of them naturally make their way indoors and into the general air supply. The closer you live to a construction project, the more likely you are to suffer from a decrease in interior air quality.
2. Furniture
Modern fabrics are treated for longevity and stain resistance. These treatments can and do contain chemicals that linger, entering the air supply in trace amounts as a piece of furniture (or carpet, or drapery) sits inside a home. If a house isn’t properly ventilated or doesn’t have an appropriate air filtration system, occupants may find themselves suffering from the ill-effects of airborne chemical exposure over time.
3. Relative Humidity
Air quality isn’t just about pollutants, it’s about comfort. If you’ve noticed a decrease in your overall health – frequent headaches, respiratory issues, nausea – you may want to consider adjusting the humidity levels inside your home. Likewise, understand that chemicals embedded in building materials and furniture are released faster when temperatures are hotter. If you always run warm inside your home you may also be inadvertently exposing yourself to contaminated air, too.
4. Dirty HVAC System
The dirtier your HVAC system, the less efficiently it works. A lack of overall maintenance can also encourage moisture buildup, dusty ductwork, and even moldy filters over time. Your HVAC system is your last line of defense against contaminants from both the indoor and the outdoor air you breathe. Keeping it in ship-shape through regular professional maintenance is the best thing you can do to improve the overall quality of the air in your home and keep yourself more comfortable from a temperature perspective.
MTB Mechanical specializes in air quality solutions in Charlotte. Our experienced technicians understand the challenges presented by “dirty” indoor air…and the discomfort it can cause.
If you suspect your indoor air quality could be to blame for some of your adverse health conditions, contact an MTB representative today for an in-home appointment. The sooner you know what’s causing your symptoms, the sooner you can fix it.