Contaminants and airborne pollutants in your home can have a detrimental effect on you, your loved ones and your belongings as well. Although “indoor air quality” can be a subjective term, improving the indoor air quality of your home should be one of your priorities as a homeowner. In a lot of cases, indoor air quality issues might be doing a lot of subtle damage to your health and property. It is very difficult for inexperienced homeowners to understand that your HVAC system’s shortcomings may lead to indoor air quality issues.
According to the HVAC experts at Service Tech, gaps in older HVAC ductwork can allow dust pollen, and even mold to enter your home. That is why here are some signs that reveal that your HVAC system might need some maintenance.
- Health issues:
Be well aware of the environment in and around your home. If you notice changes in your or your family’s health, then you need to keep an eye out on your neighborhood. If there is construction work going on near your home, then that could be a probable reason for your family’s ill health. Construction and renovation jobs generally release harmful chemicals into the air.
Your faulty HVAC system will not be able to deal with them properly and that is why some of you might feel under the weather. Other reasons include pesticide use, disinfection chemicals, painting jobs, etc.
- Medical symptoms:
You also need to keep an eye out for medical symptoms such as a runny nose, persistent colds, watery eyes, scratchy throat and wheezing. If you or your family members are suffering from these symptoms persistently, then your faulty HVAC system might be exacerbating a mold problem. If your house has mold, then you need to deal with it right away as mold can lead to more serious health concerns such as mycotoxicosis, also known as mold poisoning.
New or unusual symptoms like headaches, persistent nosebleeds, etc. can be warning signs for a much larger problem and you will need to act right away.
- Allergic responses:
You should also be mindful of you and your family members’ allergies. Allergic responses can be attributed due to a change in the weather or season generally. However, persistent allergic symptoms and illnesses can point to a much larger problem such as mold, asbestos, dust, etc. Contaminants have a more serious effect especially in indoor locations and your faulty HVAC system would only be exacerbating the issue. You need to get professional help from the HVAC experts at Service Tech immediately.
- Warning signs for water damage
As a homeowner, you should also regularly test your home for signs of water damage and mold. You should also clean your washroom regularly and be on the lookout for signs of mold and mildew. Airborne contaminants that spread through your HVAC system can also cause respiratory issues such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
The Bottom Line
Apart from these signs, you should also elicit professional help immediately if you notice any of the above symptoms. It is also an excellent idea to maintain your home’s HVAC system on a regular basis. This will ensure that you and your family are perfectly safe all the time.