Is anything more important than the air that you breathe? Now more than ever, having a fully functioning ventilation system is key to good health. But how do you know if yours needs a good cleaning? Most of today’s homes are built to be airtight. While this affords better control over indoor temperature and particulates such as dust and pollen, proper ventilation is often neglected. 

As we strive to create more energy-efficient homes and buildings, we often end up with poor indoor ventilation. If too little outdoor air is getting inside your home or building, then you have poor ventilation. There are some key things that you may notice if your home or workplace has poor indoor ventilation.  At its most basic, ventilation sifts stale air out of your home and introduces fresh, healthy air from outside. Your home might have several sources of fresh air, such as the fans in your bathroom and above your stove. Most homes also feature attic vents for fresh air.

If you don’t have enough ventilation, however, you might notice these two signs that something’s amiss. If you have reason to believe that the quality of the air in your home or business is unsafe, a thorough home or building inspection by a professional environmental consulting company is a prudent first step.

You might also notice that one room feels less healthy than the others. This occurs most often in wet areas, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. You might sneeze or cough when you enter these areas, or perhaps you recognize signs of mold and mildew. Look for increased dust accumulation, as well, which could relate to poor ventilation and airflow. Lower air exchange rates increase the concentration of airborne pollutants. Environmental factors like climate, humidity, and temperature all affect when homeowners decide to either naturally or mechanically ventilate their space. Poor ventilation can also result in moisture build-up and mold growth.

Over time, poor ventilation in your home can cause your living space to feel uncomfortable and unhealthy. But how can you tell if poor ventilation is causing your discomfort, and how can you make it go away? From excessive dust to unpleasant odors, discover these signs that your home has poor ventilation, and learn how to fix this indoor air quality issue.

How does Air move Through Your House? 

All homes exchange indoor air with the outdoors. Air exchange occurs in two ways: air leaks and temperature and pressure differences.

All homes have air leaks or passages through which air can travel through. Examples include pipes and plumbing, chimneys, vents, as well as cracks that form between structures like windows and walls. Temperature and pressure differences help to move air in and out of buildings through a phenomenon known as the Stack Effect. In layman's terms, the stack effect is essentially how warm air moves upward in a building due to air buoyancy.

Types of Ventilation

There are three types of ventilation used to help combat airborne pollutants and humidity: spot, dilution, and natural.

• Spot Ventilation

• Spot ventilation targets a specific source of air pollution/moisture. Examples include a range hood above a stovetop, an exhaust fan in a bathroom, or the exhaust (ductwork) for a clothes dryer.

• Dilution Ventilation

• Dilution ventilation is capable of supplying and exhausting large amounts of air from a building. The overarching goal is to dilute the concentration of airborne contaminants through air changes.

• An air change occurs through natural ventilation as well as mechanical ventilation.

• Natural Ventilation

• Natural ventilation is the uncontrolled movement of air in a space. Air naturally infiltrates a building or structure through air leakage. However, homes today are engineered to be more energy efficient so that air leaks and the subsequent thermal energy loss are nullified.

• Mechanical Ventilation

• Mechanical fans conduct mechanical ventilation. Fans can be installed in windows or walls directly or in air ducts to supply air to or from the room. The type of mechanical ventilation used depends on the weather. For example, in hot and humid climates, it may be necessary to minimize or prevent intrusion rather than interstitial compaction (which, when hot and humid air penetrates a wall, ceiling, or floor from inside a building with a cold surface Encounters) prevent. In these cases, a positive-pressure mechanical ventilation system is often used.

A Clogged Air Filter

Go take a look at your air filter, since this is where pollutants and other airborne particles are snagged before they circulate. The filter plays a big role in keeping the air in your system clean. (If you’re one of those people who have never changed your filter, now is a good time to start!)

Have you noticed that it has collected dust, or has chunks of pet hair sticking to it? It’s time to replace it, stat. Luckily, that’s an easy fix–and one that should be done regularly for optimum air quality.

Worsening Allergies

Allergies can be a challenge under the best of circumstances. But if you’ve noticed that the usual symptoms of a runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing have worsened, it might be due to a build-up in your air duct system. If your family members are constantly sneezing or sniffling, you might chalk it up to seasonal allergies or reactions to common irritants like dust and pet dander. However, frequent allergy attacks often indicate that contaminants are settling in your home rather than circulating out.

What are the effects of these on your health? 

Poor air quality at work or home can pose health problems for anyone that spends a significant amount of time there. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions are even more vulnerable to indoor air pollution.

Exposure to indoor pollutants can mimic cold or virus symptoms and exasperate allergies and asthma. If you consistently feel unwell when in a specific location and begin to improve after leaving then indoor air pollutant is a likely factor.

Cough And Congestion

One of the biggest factors in whether or not air quality is considered poor is the concentration of particles it contains. You encounter countless airborne particles every day. However, in a home with poor air quality, these particles become overwhelming.

As you breathe in more particles, you may develop a cough or congestion as your body attempts to expel the foreign bodies.

Low humidity can cause a dry throat, dry skin, and electricity produced via friction build-up. High humidity adds to bacterial and mold development. This can intensely affect the health of your kids and wife. 

Fatigue And Dizziness

Chemical and gaseous air contaminants, such as fumes or carbon monoxide, can affect cognitive functions. One of the first symptoms that these pollutants cause is a feeling of sleepiness, fatigue, or dizziness. If these symptoms appear suddenly or at a particularly high intensity, leave your home until you can have a professional inspect for a gas leak or similar problem.

Frequent Illness

In addition to particle concentration, humidity plays a big role in air quality. When the air in your home becomes overly dry, airborne illnesses move more freely. This freedom of movement is the real reason you get sick more often in the winter than in the summer.

If your family experiences frequent cold, flu, or cough symptoms, you may need to check your air quality. Poor ventilation causes Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The indications incorporate sickness of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, fatigue, and weakness to colds and influenza. The use of quality air conditioners and ventilation systems can alleviate these health issues. On the same note, this home equipment should be used moderately to avoid adverse conditions, especially for individuals with poor health conditions.

Headache

Exposure to chemicals or even strong odors can result in headaches. Pesticides, household cleaners, and even standing garbage can contribute to poor air quality and subsequent headaches.

You may also experience sinus headaches as a side effect of air quality-related congestion.

Hyperactive Allergies

If you suffer from airborne allergies, you know the symptoms well. But if your allergies appear out of season or with unusual frequency, air quality may be to blame.

If poor air quality is causing your hyperactive allergies, you may not notice any changes when you clean more, take medication, or eliminate known allergens. Some individuals do not get allergy relief until after they install an air purifier.

Mucus Membrane Irritation

Contaminants and dry air irritate the most vulnerable parts of your body, starting with mucus membranes. You may notice itching, watering, running, or burning sensations that affect the following areas:

• Eyes

• Mouth and tongue

• Nose

• Throat

You may also begin to have more frequent nosebleeds, especially if your poor air quality stems from a lack of moisture.

Nausea

In some extreme cases, exposure to airborne contaminants can cause nausea. However, vomiting or prolonged nausea that doesn’t abate when you leave the home result from one of two sets of circumstances.

Either nausea and vomiting stem from another cause for which you should seek medical attention, or the symptoms result from a serious air quality threat.

Respiratory Issues

When airborne contaminants enter your body, they can cause more than a cough. Poor air quality, especially when caused by pollutants, can also contribute to respiratory infections and irritation.

Often, poor air quality affects the most vulnerable members of your household. This type of air quality deficiency can cause respiratory issues in young children, individuals with compromised immune systems, individuals with asthma, or household pets.

Skin Dryness and Irritation

Poor air quality doesn’t just affect your mucous membranes, it also irritates your skin. If you live in a home with poor air quality, you may notice dryness, peeling, flaking, rashes, or redness on any portion of your skin.

If you suffer from eczema, acne, or another skin condition, poor air quality may exacerbate your symptoms.

If you or any member of your family experiences acute respiratory symptoms, especially difficulty breathing, contact emergency medical services. While these symptoms can result from poor air quality, it’s important to rule out airway obstructions, food allergies, and other causes which can result in serious medical emergencies.

Should you notice any combination of the signs listed here, discuss your options with an HVAC contractor. He or she may recommend a localized or whole-home air purifier to alleviate your family’s acute symptoms and improve your home’s air quality in the long run.

Poor air quality can become intensified by moist or particularly dry environments. If your home exhibits poor air quality and humidity level problems, your HVAC contractor may also recommend installing a humidifier or dehumidifier.

Note: When poor ventilation plagues a home, occupants often experience physical symptoms. You might notice that your nose runs more often or that you get stopped overnight. Itchy, watery eyes; sore throats; and skin rashes can all result from inadequate fresh air.

An Increase in Dust

If you’ve been seeing more dust and dirt collecting on the furniture than usual, your HVAC system may be struggling. Over time, dirt can collect in the ducts, which means that it is being pushed out into your home. It’s easy to assume that a layer of dust means your last attempt at cleaning may not have been as thorough as usual. In many cases, excessive dust throughout your home can actually point to a serious ventilation issue.

Hint: if you see clouds of dust being expelled when the system switches on, this is a big clue that there is a build-up. Ditto for uneven air flow coming out of the vents. And if you see smoke, that’s a big danger sign–turn off your system immediately.

Problems With Pests

Got pesky pests running through your attic? Unfortunately, air ducts can be an ideal habitat for mice, rats, and other critters. If you’ve had a recent infestation, you’ll not only need to have the unwanted guests removed–get those vents cleaned, too.

Rodents and insects can leave droppings that remain, affecting the air quality going through your system. Dead or diseased animals left behind can transmit diseases and cause serious health issues for the occupants of your home. So, it’s best to have a thorough cleaning and inspection done by a professional.

There are so many good reasons to make sure that your ventilation system is clean. Accumulated dirt can clog filters and make them work harder and use more energy. That means higher electric bills! Plus, all that built-up gunk in the air ducts can lead to mold growth and other costly long-term issues.

There you have it. Realizing how poor ventilation can affect your family’s health will guarantee that you focus on adequate ventilation in your home, for health and safety's sake. You discover more about how to properly ventilate your entire home by scheduling an appointment with a professional local HVAC contractor near your home. You’ll be surprised that it won’t cost you much to get your dear home adequately ventilated.