The modern world cares a lot about the environment. But how many of us look at the environment inside the house? The truth is unless a home inspection in Kansas digs up air quality issues, not many Kansans think twice about it. However, having poor air quality in the house can be a serious health risk for you and your loved ones. As such, getting regular air quality tests is important. Here’s how you can know when to get these.
1. Keep in check on how you feel
Do you or your loved ones experience a lot of allergies? Are headaches, nausea, fatigue, and irritate sinus or throat a common thing to happen in your house? If your answer to these two questions were a yes, then you may want to get the indoor air quality checked.
Similarly, if your respiratory system is struggling in the house, a check is an urgent need. Dust is really minute and may not be readily visible to the naked eye. However, it can easily clog and settle on different items in your house, leading to allergies and other health conditions.
2. Check the vents in your house
Do you vacuum your vents as many other Kansans do? If yes, the next time, check your vent filters. These are notorious for being clogged with dust, allergens, and pollutants. Ideally, you should be checking and replacing these every month, depending on how many people live in your house.
As such, take a look at the filters and change them if needed. However, if your filter changing lifespan is shorter than a month, you may need to book an air quality test soon.
3. Heaters and headache
Does your heater give you a headache? No, not a metaphorical one out of frustration, but a literal one. When the vents in your house are clogged with dirt and there’s debris in your heater, you are bound to experience more trouble when you use it.
In such conditions, using a heater can also release colorless and odorless toxic gases, Carbon Monoxide and Radon, further affecting the air quality. Therefore, installing detectors for these gases along with an air quality test becomes an imminent need.
4. Moisture problems in the house
Mold growth in the house is a direct result of moisture build-up in the house. A possible deterrent would be properly venting the bathroom and airing out the room after each use. However, if you still find mold in your house, you should consider getting an air quality test.
Mold is infamous for turning into allergic spores that cause a variety of health problems, mostly affecting the respiratory system. In a confined space like a house, these can be troublesome, especially when found near an HVAC vent.
5. The age of your house
How old is your house? If it was built before 1978, you may have a problem in your hands. While older homes are great options for fixer-upper projects, they can be a health hazard. Before 1978, most homes were painted with lead-based paint. Moreover, Asbestos was a common material used in construction.
These two elements in an aged home can pollute the indoor air. This is why sanding, rubbing, or burning these materials must be done with appropriate precautions. If your house was built before 1978, you should immediately call in an air quality check.
Conclusion
Indoor air quality tests are an important step to ensure your house is habitable. It is also a test you must include when buying a new house. While you may want to skip it to reduce the expenses or choose to do it yourself, it’s always better to get it done by a professional.
