Last Updated on March 19, 2014
There are all sorts of deadly air pollutants that can find their way into sealed spaces at home. Unfortunately, these pollutants go unnoticed until it is too late. Some of the common air pollutants are such as carbon monoxide, radon, mold spores and the likes, are all very deadly when left in a sealed space in our homes. The only way to notice them and thus take the right action to eradicate them is through a well carried out indoor air quality testing by an experienced professional.
Indoor air pollutant sources
According to one such experienced air pollutant testing inspector based downtown, the hazards come from a number of sources. These include deteriorating construction materials, some air fresheners, damp padding and carpeting, furniture made of some pressed wood raw materials and the many more. Pesticides whether organic or inorganic are also a major cause of air pollution and their gases enter a home in a number of ways, through the AC system being the commonest. Radon, a well known carcinogenic gas enters a home from outdoors in any number of ways.
Role of home ventilation in air pollution
Unlike the old day homes, modern homes are built more sealed than ever before. While this is great for energy conservation, all sorts of deadly gases often get trapped in these sorts of tightly sealed homes. Basements with poor ventilation systems allow more harmful elements into the home than other rooms put together. In addition to poor ventilation, harmful air pollutants also enter into your home through the process of infiltration. This happens from outdoor air entering the home through cracks in the walls, floors, ceilings and the so forth.
Identifying air quality issues
In some cases, air quality issues are apparent, manifesting themselves in dizziness, headaches and a number of other different physical signs. If air in a room is too stuffy, smells wrong and the likes, then this is an indication that something needs to be done to freshen it up. If there is unusual amount of condensation on the windows, walls and other surfaces in a home, this indicates insufficient ventilation.
For gases such as the deadly radon, the best way to identify their manifestation is through the use of the right testing kits. These kits will help you tell if this radio active gas is present and whether its levels are acceptable or high enough to constitute a health risk. If you can not be able to use the testing kit yourself, hire the right air quality testing inspectors to help you out.
Identifying biological contaminants
Biological air contaminants come in a number of forms, with some being easy to identify. These forms include cockroaches, cat saliva, animal dander, mold, mildew, viruses and many more. These contaminants manifest themselves in a number of ways. These are such as:
• Allergic reactions
• Watering eyes
• Humidity fevers, that is, fevers brought about by exposure to toxins from micro-organisms that grow in large building ventilation systems
• Unusual number of sneezing fits
Reducing biological air contaminants
1. Dry flooring materials, for instance carpets immediately they get wet
2. Avoid carpet stains by cleaning them immediately when it is soiled by the pets
3. Keep your home as clean as you can
4. Install bathroom and kitchen vent fans on the exteriors of a house
5. Keep the basement clean, dry and disinfected as often as you can.
6. The central AC return air filter should be changed on a monthly basis