Student performance in schools is significantly affected by indoor air quality at home. Typical contaminants from outside, such as power plants and vehicles, combined with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and radon, create a toxic environment indoors. For the best indoor air quality, homeowners and business owners should have their heating and cooling units maintained twice a year. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers residential and commercial HVAC maintenance plans to combat poor air quality indoors year-round.
Common Causes of Poor Air Quality Indoors
Indoor air quality affects a person’s comfort, health, and ability to work. Your air quality is affected by the temperature, humidity, ventilation and other chemicals indoors. The leading causes of poor air quality indoors are:
- Poor ventilation with your heating and cooling system
- Lack of ventilation to bring fresh air indoors or preventing contaminated air from filtering outside
- Construction or remodeling inside
- Moisture and dampness indoors due to high humidity, leaks, or flooding
- Cigarette smoke from smoking indoors and residue on clothing
- Pesticides and other chemicals tracked inside from clothing and shoes
- Chemicals from cleaning products
- Unventilated damp areas
- Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) from furniture and other interior materials
- Polyurethane found in mattresses
Impact of Poor Air Quality on Students
Common side effects of poor indoor air quality on adults and children include:
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
- Dizziness and nausea
- Dry skin and mucous membranes
- Coughing and respiratory infections
- Rashes and reddening of the skin
Students are more susceptible to poor air quality indoors then adults. Children breathe in more air than adults, so pollutants in homes harm them more. Children also have immune systems that are constantly developing and learning to fight different viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants, making them more susceptible to pollutants in the air.
Air filters for HVAC systems become clogged with particles when they aren’t changed on a regular basis. A clogged filter isn’t able to trap and kill pollutants or bacteria that are floating around in the air. Children who battle repeated respiratory infections and other illness, experience less sleep. Aside from continued absences, students who experience unhealthy air in their homes have more trouble focusing and retaining information. Their test-taking abilities become impaired, and their grades suffer tremendously.
Improve Indoor Air Quality
The quality of your air indoors contributes to several health risks, and in time, it affects your heating and cooling system. To reduce the risk of poor air quality in your home:
- Call a NATE-certified professional at Douglas Cooling & Heating and have your air ducts inspected. Dirt, debris, and other contaminants can collect inside your air ducts. When air passes through contaminated ducts, the air becomes compromised and is cycled throughout your home. Our technicians will clean your air ducts to eliminate any pollutants and replace ductwork that is faulty or old.
- Install ultraviolet lights in your ductwork to kill mildew, bacteria, viruses, and other germs. This prevents the possibility that these contaminants could accumulate in your ducts.
- Replace air filters for HVAC systems on a regular basis, about once every three to four months. The air filters for HVAC systems become clogged if they aren’t changed regularly. During routine HVAC maintenance, our professionals check, clean, or replace your air filters to prevent polluted air from pumping back into your home.
- Invest in a quality dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels. Removing excess humidity improves issues with mold growth and reduces the risk of respiratory infections.
Understand how poor air quality indoors affects students and their academic performance. Create healthy indoor air for your home with Douglas Cooling & Heating’ help. Contact us for HVAC maintenance and get your air healthy for the students in your home.
