Like most metropolitan areas, Atlanta struggles to maintain good air quality. While this is definitely a concern for your health and the health of your family, you may be ignoring something that could be affecting your health just as negatively, if not more. Indoor air quality can become a serious problem if left unchecked. Here are three common signs that you may have a problem with indoor air quality.
Strange Smells
It’s easy to become accustomed to your home’s smell, but if there’s a problem with indoor air quality, you will start to notice an unpleasant odor when returning to your home. The smell will be more noticeable after being gone all day or after leaving for the weekend.
Health Problems
The health problems associated with indoor air quality problems vary widely, but it’s likely that most of the people in your home will experience at least a few of these symptoms. These symptoms include headaches, shortness of breath, and fatigue. You may also notice cold-like symptoms, such as a scratchy throat, sinus congestion, coughing, and sneezing. Some people even experience nausea and dizziness. Individuals with existing respiratory problems or allergies will probably find these symptoms more pronounced.
Mold
Unhealthy indoor air is sometimes due to excessive humidity in the air. While it’s common for mold to grow around sinks, tubs, fixtures, and other areas that are often moist, humid air will cause mold to grow in less common areas. These areas include furniture, floors, and walls. It’s important to identify this mold in order to address the air quality problem that’s causing the mold as well as to prevent further health problems from mold.
Poor indoor air quality can be caused by bacterial contamination, fabrics, inadequate ventilation, or outdoor sources of contamination. Fortunately, there are professionals who can assess your home’s air quality level and the causes of poor air quality. Finding the source of the problem can help know which indoor air products to recommend so that you no longer have to deal with the effects of poor indoor air quality.
