Avoid indoor air problems with right air conditioning

Indoor air problems are subtle. They are not always detectable easily. But their ill-effects become apparent after a while. 

There are many factors that affect the quality of air inside a building. They include high traffic in the region, climate, neighborhood industry, and even faulty heating and air conditioning systems.

A study by the researchers from Cornell University has found that one in five occupants in America show symptoms caused by indoor air pollution. The symptoms are collectively known as the sick building syndrome. They include the following four health conditions:

• Cough, sneezing, and sinus congestion
• Fatigue, irregular breath, and headache
• Irritation on skin, in eyes, nose, and throat
• Nausea and dizziness

People are not equally sensitive. Therefore some tend to develop symptoms of sick building syndrome quite early while other occupants continue to live without showing any ill effects. Although only a healthcare professional can determine how susceptible an individual is to poor air quality, there are groups that are more prone than others. These groups are:

• People diagnosed with a respiratory disease
• People with a weak immune system
• Those who wear contact lenses
• Individuals with asthma or air related allergies

Do you have an issue?

Although professionals working for air conditioning and air heating companies are better prepared to advise you on whether you have excessive population inside your building, below is a checklist you can use to make a preliminarily determination yourself.

You may have the problem of bad air inside your building if:

• Symptoms of sick building disease are widespread among its occupants
• Symptoms go away when the occupants go away for long periods of time
• Symptoms appear out of the blue
• Individuals with high sensitivity to chemicals, or with a disease, are more prone to show symptoms
• Your doctor says so

The air conditioning of your home affects the air quality of your place enormously. If you think you have a problem, consult an air conditioning and heating company and get your cooling and heating systems fixed up.

Poor Indoor Air Quality – Causes and Solutions

Los Angeles has never been famous for air quality. Its smog-filled streets and alleys during weekdays are far too familiar to be missed. But that is not the sole problem facing its inhabitants. There is another problem that is affecting the people of this wonderful city – indoor air pollution.

It is hard to believe that the air inside your building can be polluted. There are no black fumes or smoke-spewing factories in there. Yet, the U.S. Environment Protection Agency claims that the indoors can be five times as polluted as the air outside.

Causes

Poor ventilation and high humidity are two primary reasons of high indoor air pollution.

Poor ventilation

Poor ventilation is particularly a problem in new buildings. They are sealed tightly to save energy. This blocks air flow between the building and the surrounding atmosphere. Without movement, the indoor air becomes stagnant and stale. The contaminants have nowhere to escape. They continue to float around, leading to mild discomfort, allergic reactions, and several other health problems.

High humidity
Too much of moisture is not good for air quality indoors. Mites, mildew, mold, bacteria, and viruses thrive in high humidity. These tiny organisms float in air. When occupants breathe, these microorganisms find their way into the lungs; affecting their health. High humidity affects health in a second way by promoting many common materials to release chemicals. The chemicals are often harmless, but over time, they tend to have a negative effect on the throat, eyes, nose, and skin.

How to improve air quality indoors?

There are several things that can be done to improve indoor air quality. Here are the top five of them:

• Find an air conditioning repair company in Los Angeles and ask them to ensure your cooling system helps in ventilation

• Keep the humidifier, furnace, and air conditioner in perfect shape

• Avoid furnishings that release vapors

• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens

• Avoid smoking within the walls of the building

Los Angeles does not have a good air quality. There is little you can do to change it. But you can improve the air quality inside your home if you keep your ventilation equipment in a good shape and avoid chemical-fumes producing products.