Air quality is something that it’s easy to overlook. When you live in the same house for years on end, air quality can steadily decline, and you may not even realize it until you’re coughing and sneezing like you’ve got some perpetual cold. Even if that isn’t the case, there are collateral negative effects of poor air quality in your home.
Following we’ll briefly cover three negative impacts that come from poor indoor air quality. Working with professionals to rectify such issues is absolutely integral for more than just your safety.
Direct Health Impacts
Certainly, the first and most obvious negative impact of poor indoor air quality pertains to the health of those exposed to it. Particulates can spread disease, and they can induce allergic reactions which otherwise may not occur. While it’s also true that long-term exposure to poor air quality can initiate some level of adaptation, this isn’t going to be a positive thing.
Think of it this way: you can learn to walk without both feet, but the prosthetic is surely less desirable than a good foot. Similarly, you can live in a space where the air is terrible, but it’s going to make life difficult. This is especially true for young children in development, and the elderly. The lungs need clear, pure, clean air for best functionality and overall health.
A Reduction In Property Value, And Integrity
Poor air quality will actually impact your property’s value because it will impact structural integrity over time. A clogged up HVAC system will accumulate dust and break down, and parasites become attracted to the dust. Insects go after the parasites, vermin go after the insects, and a bit of an ecosystem can develop in the walls of your home.
Poor air will lead to other problems that continue to propound over time, steadily destroying your property’s value. If the air makes people sick, they won’t want to buy it. Bad smells can also sour an otherwise likely sale.
Of course, this will depend on the specific type of poor air you’re contending with. Sometimes it’s poor owing to vast amounts of particulate matter floating about, sometimes you’re dealing with a chemical issue. Certain fumes can be corrosive.
Increased Maintenance Needs Owing To Dust Accumulation
If there’s poor air quality owing to circulation loss, there will be an accumulation of particulate matter that is steady. Dust can come to cover everything. The worse the air quality is, the more likely it is that this phenomenon will develop. If you treat the problem rather than the cause, you’ll spend unnecessary time performing maintenance that isn’t strictly necessary.
It’s necessary to keep things clean, but there are other steps that represent less work in the fullness of time which may be a better option. Think of it this way: if you get headaches because you’re dehydrated, it’s better to drink a bottle of water than take a bunch of painkillers. Likewise, with air circulation issues, figure out the source of the problem.
Avoiding Common Mistakes And Keeping Your Air At Its Cleanest
To fix a home or other property that’s suffering from poor indoor air quality, there are associated best practices. Sometimes the issue comes from outdoor pollutants entering a property owing to an opening somewhere that needs to be fortified. Sometimes you just need to service your HVAC system. Sometimes home materials are the issue.
Remember the health issues associated with asbestos? Well, sometimes home is made of things that break down over time and eventually make people sick. What this means is you want to court professional assistance as you go about seeking solutions to air issues of this type—you also need to know what you may be doing wrong so you can avoid such action.
Here’s a great resource to help you identify and avoid indoor air quality mistakes by IsoldMyHouse.com. It’s absolutely fundamental to be proactive in air quality management, and that means starting off with the right habits.
If you have been doing things poorly or improperly, now is a great time to change things up. Cleaning your air has many benefits, including increased health, increased property value, and a reduction in necessary maintenance. Accordingly, know what mistakes to avoid, and the proper preventative action.