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Signs Your Home Has Poor Indoor Air Quality

The average person spends much of their time indoors. You may believe your home is a safe haven that you’ve kept clean. However, the air inside your home could be worse than the air outdoors.

Poor indoor air quality is common, and many homeowners aren’t even aware of the problem. The good news is that your house will often provide these clues. Your home is trying to tell you something.

Here are several signs that indicate you may have poor indoor air quality.
You Notice Stale or Musty Odors
Do you smell something stale or musty in your house? Odd odors are one of the first clues that your home’s air quality isn’t great. These smells usually originate from mold, mildew, or bacteria colonies hiding somewhere in your home.

Check your bathrooms, basement, underneath sinks, and inside cabinets. Sometimes mold can grow inside walls or behind furniture. You may not see the colonies, but you’ll smell them. If the odor doesn’t go away after thorough cleaning, the problem is probably more than skin deep.
Your Allergy Symptoms Get Worse Indoors
How do you feel when you’re inside versus outside? If your allergies act up more when you’re inside the house, your indoor air quality may be causing them. Dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores are common indoor allergens.

These substances float around in your air and cause allergy symptoms when you breathe them in. Many people think they suffer from seasonal allergies when the problem is their home.

Your symptoms may improve when you leave for vacation. If so, start by investigating your indoor air quality.
You Feel Tired or Have Headaches Often
Constant fatigue and headaches are another sign of poor indoor air quality. Carbon monoxide may be the culprit. It is naturally odorless and colorless, so unless you have a detector it is hard to know.

Certain toxins like volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, could also be causing symptoms. VOCs are common in paint, cleaning products, and new furniture. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can make you feel tired and cause dizziness and headaches. If you notice you or your family feel better while away from home, the air in your house may be responsible.
There Is Visible Dust and Dirt Buildup
Grab a pair of gloves and run your fingers along your vents, ceiling fans, and baseboards. Are they dusty? If so, your heating and cooling system may not be filtering out debris like it should be. Dust in your home means particles are floating around in your air.

Dead skin cells, pet dander, pollen, and dust mites are common in household dust. Dust mites are tiny insects you cannot see. When dust accumulates quickly, it usually means your air filter is dirty.

Air filters should be replaced at minimum every three months. If you have pets or live in a dusty area, you’ll want to change yours more frequently.
You See Condensation on Windows and Walls
Humidity is another cause of poor indoor air quality. Notice if water droplets are forming on your windows or walls. If so, moisture is making your home’s air quality worse. High levels of humidity promote the growth of mold and mildew. Humidity also makes the air feel heavy and difficult to breathe.

Your indoor humidity level should stay between 30 to 50 percent. You can measure this with a device called a hygrometer. You can also buy a dehumidifier to help remove moisture from the air. Ensure your bathroom and kitchen vents are venting to the outside.
Your Home Has Recent Renovations or New Furniture
Did you paint your house recently or buy new furniture? New carpet, paint, wood floors, and furniture can release toxins into the air. This process is called off gassing. VOCs are often found in these materials and seep into your air for weeks or months. Right after renovation, you may have noticed a strong chemical smell.

That smell means chemicals are getting pumped into your air every time you turn on the heat or air. Keep your windows open and use fans when buying new materials or renovating. Try to purchase low-VOC or VOC-free products whenever possible.
Your Skin Feels Dry or Irritated
Have you noticed your skin has been dry, itchy, or irritated lately? Something in your air could be drying you out. Very dry air can rob your skin of moisture. It can even irritate your throat and nasal passages. Air that lacks circulation can also make your skin feel dry. On the flip side, too much moisture can cause skin irritation from mold and bacteria. If you notice your skin clears up when you travel, look into your home’s air quality.
You Hear Your HVAC System Running Constantly
Your heating and cooling system can affect your indoor air quality. If it runs constantly but your house still feels stuffy, there may be an issue. Leaky ducts and poor airflow can cause your system to work harder than it should.

Leaky ducts can suck up dust, insulation particles, and other debris from your walls. Keeping up with your HVAC maintenance can prevent these issues and improve your indoor air.
What You Can Do About It
Improving your indoor air quality is easy and doesn’t take much effort. Here are some steps you can take to clean up your air:

Change your air filters every 1-3 months.

Use exhaust fans when cooking and cleaning.

Get carbon monoxide and radon detectors.

Vacuum and dust your home often.

Open windows to allow fresh air indoors.

Get houseplants. They can naturally filter some toxins.

Run a HEPA air purifier in your bedrooms and main living spaces.

Control your humidity level.

Do Not Ignore the Warning Signs
You should feel comfortable and healthy in your home. If you start to notice several of these signs, take action sooner rather than later. Poor indoor air quality can creep up over time.

You may not even notice because your body adapts to the poor conditions. However, your family could be at risk. Making a few changes can improve your air quality and benefit everyone’s health.
Case Study: Improving IAQ with Ventilation and Filtration
HOW ONE FAMILY ENJOYED RELIEF FROM ALLERGY SYMPTOMS.

A family complained of allergy symptoms and stuffy houses even after cleaning. Sneezing, itchy eyes, headaches, and congestion occurred when they spent long periods inside their house. These symptoms persisted throughout the year and were accompanied by musty odours and dust build-up.

Their indoor air quality specialist found that:

Dirty HVAC filters

Poor ventilation

High humidity levels

Dust buildup in ductwork

Little to no airflow

After some changes, their home began to feel:

Comfortable

They installed:

High-efficiency HVAC filters

HEPA air purifiers in living areas

Improved ventilation

Lower humidity levels

Scheduled maintenance on HVAC system

They also took steps to:

Dust fewer chemicals

Skin allergies began to disappear along with the dust bunnies! Within months, the family noticed:

Less allergy symptoms

Less dust

Fresher smelling air

Indoor air quality can be poor for a long time before homeowners realize it. Improving ventilation, filtration, and indoor humidity can help tremendously.

https://www.nsc.org/getmedia/c6cba2d1-6ea1-4433-836f-558d92b81e60/safer-case-study-ventilation-filtration.pdf
Indoor Air Quality FAQS
What does IAQ mean?
Indoor air quality (IAQ) describes the air quality inside homes and buildings such as offices. It includes pollutants, humidity, ventilation, and how dust-free the air is.
What causes poor indoor air quality?
Things that can pollute indoor air include:

Drywall dust

Pet dander

Dustmites

Pollen

Cigarette smoke

Viruses and bacteria

Mold

Humidity

Cleaning chemicals

Household toxins

Poor ventilation

How do I know if my indoor air quality is bad?
If you experience these things inside your home, your air may be polluted:

Year-round allergies

Skin irritation

Stale air

Frequent illness

Headaches

Dry skin

Dry eyes

Lack of airflow

Can poor indoor air quality make me sick?
Yes. Poor IAQ can cause allergies, asthma attacks, respiratory issues, dry skin, headaches, fatigue, and sinus pressure. Pollutants can increase your health risk the longer you’re exposed to them.
What are VOCs? Are they bad?
VOCs are volatile organic compounds. VOCs are emitted by paints, furniture, carpets, cleaning supplies, building materials, and various household items. Exposure to VOCs can cause irritation of the eyes and throat, headaches, and nausea.
Why does my house smell like mold?
If your house smells musty, there could be too much moisture in the air. Mold and mildew could be present or you might be experiencing poor ventilation. Houses often have musty smells in bathrooms, basements, and crawl spaces.
How often should I change the filter in my HVAC?
You should change your filter every 1-3 months. If you have pets, allergies, or a lot of dust in your home you may need to change it more often.
Will high humidity affect my indoor air quality?
Yes. Humidity adds moisture to the air which can lead to mold, mildew, bacteria, and dust mites.
Do air purifiers really work?
Yes! Air purifiers with HEPA filters can reduce airborne allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, an air purifier can be a helpful addition to your home.
What is a HEPA filter?
HEPA means high-efficiency particulate air. These types of filters trap 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns.
Will houseplants improve my indoor air quality?
Houseplants can slightly improve air quality by absorbing some pollutants. However, they shouldn’t be used in place of ventilation or filtration.
My house gets dusty after I clean. Why?
There could be several issues if you’re fighting dust constantly.

HVAC filters

Dirty ductwork

No air circulation

Pets

High traffic areas

How do I know if I need my air ducts cleaned?
If you see visible mold growth, dust buildup, or pests in your ductwork you might benefit from having your air ducts cleaned. A technician can inspect your home and let you know if it’s needed.
What’s the ideal humidity level for my home?
Most people advise keeping humidity levels between 30-50%.
How can I improve my indoor air quality?
Improve indoor air quality by: