Modern homes are carefully constructed to maximize their energy-efficiency. While this has had a positive impact on the environment and homeowners’ energy costs, there is one big side effect. With homes built to be airtight, all of the pollutants from cooking, cleaning and other daily activities remain trapped inside. If indoor air quality isn’t actively maintained, this can trigger or aggravate several health problems.
Common Illnesses Caused by Poor Ventilation
Poor ventilation primarily causes or affects health conditions that are related to the respiratory system. These include:
- Flus and colds. Your body fights these common viruses through the mucus in your nose. When your respiratory system is kept moist, the viruses are naturally pushed out. If poor indoor air quality causes your home’s air to dry out or causes your immune system to become overwhelmed with fighting off other pollutants, your defenses against the flu and colds are lowered. Worse still, cold and flu season typically occurs when you have your home tightly sealed up for the winter.
- Mold. Mold can trigger severe allergic reactions and other serious health conditions because it thrives in moist conditions. In poorly ventilated homes, moisture from showers, washing dishes and even sweat can cause increased humidity that feeds mold growth.
- Asthma. Poor indoor air quality can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms, and it is suspected that it also plays a role in the development of asthma. The airways of a person with asthma are already highly sensitive, and even a little extra stress from things like dust, chemical odors and tobacco smoke can trigger asthma attacks.
How to Improve Ventilation
Many people enjoy airing out their homes by throwing open all of their windows on nice days. This is a good thing to do, but it doesn’t provide nearly enough circulation when week-long heat waves or freezing spells strike. Instead, look to a constant solution such as a heat recovery ventilator. These ventilators deliver a constant supply of fresh air into your home while matching the temperature of incoming outside air to inside air so your heating and cooling costs don’t increase.
To get help improving your indoor air quality in the Clearwater, FL, area, contact Cox Air today.
