Are you wondering if you might be breathing in bad air? Well, it is time to take out the guesswork and get down to brass tacks. Here are three different ways to keep up to date on the risks confronting the quality of your air.

1. Listen To Your Body 

A buildup of irritants in the air will cause biological effects that can be more than noticeable. Sneezing, stuffy nose, coughing, and headaches are some of the most common symptoms your body might experience if there is a lot of pollen, dander, or mold in the air.

These effects can be down-right debilitating if they end up causing severe versions of the aforementioned systems. Extreme respiratory issues and crippling migraines can become chronic in particularly polluted indoor environments. Just be sure that you are only experiencing these symptoms at home.

2. Air Quality Monitors

Most often an air quality monitor is going to test the air for three main air quality issues. The first is particulate matter (PM), which usually covers dust, and not the microscopic particulates. Second is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which mainly consist of chemical fumes from items such as paint, cleaning supplies, pesticides, glues, permanent markers, etc.

But most particulate matter that can be monitored can be seen or sourced, just as most VOCs give off an odor that can be traced back to a source. If you just painted your kitchen, you are likely dealing with a VOC. If you don’t clean your dryer vent regularly, you might be dealing with some PM.

The third air quality issue most monitors measure is Carbon Dioxide (CO2), which has no smell, taste, or visible signs of existing. If you think you might be at risk of excess CO2 in a confined space such as a home or office, these levels must be monitored.

3. Professional Testing

If you have reason to believe there is a more serious problem with your air, you should consider having an air quality professional check for signs of radon, asbestos, and mold. It is not impossible to test for the presence of these chemicals yourself, but it is not worth the risk of incorrect results.

None of these air issues will cause mortal harm immediately, but they are known to cause serious harm as a result of prolonged exposure. The faster you can identify the presences of more serious air contaminants, the more you can reduce your chances of contracting associated illnesses.

Cleaning Your Air

All of these methods of testing and monitoring your air quality are fine for discovering an issue, but once a problem is revealed, it is time to take action. But how do you go about cleaning your air? You might choose a filter or air out a room until the fumes have dissipated.

But for many air quality issues, the best choice will be air duct cleaning. Even if you are adding an air filter, you will want to clean your ducts and install the filter at the proper point in your ventilation system. So if you are ready to start breathing better air, call us now!