It’s easy to take for granted that the air in your home is safe to breathe. However, dangerous gases and contaminants can go undetected until it’s too late.
Protect yourself from these four pollutants:
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. Gas furnaces and water heaters can be culprits in CO poisoning.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, and even death. Only a carbon monoxide detector can alert you to the presence of this dangerous gas.
Radon
Radon occurs naturally in the soil. Many houses with crawlspaces have a vapor barrier laid over the ground to keep radon from seeping into the house. Still, trace amounts of radon can slip through.
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, and even those who don't smoke or live with someone who does could suffer from radon exposure.
Like a CO detector, a radon detector can warn you when a dangerous amount of radon is present in your home.
Mold
Walls, floors, and ceilings can become fertile breeding grounds for various types of mold. Your ducts, too, can harbor mold and mildew, helping circulate mold spores throughout your home. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace your ducts.
Mold can lead to asthma and other respiratory complications.
Damp rooms with poor ventilation foster mold growth. Follow these steps to reduce moisture:
Turn on your exhaust fans in the kitchen or bathroom for 20 minutes after cooking or showering. Even better: invest in an exhaust system with a humidity sensor. This activates the fan when the humidity in your home reaches a certain level.
Use a hygrometer. Its digital or manual read-out tells you how much moisture is in the air. Moisture levels over 50% indicate a humid environment.
Find and fix leaks. Minor leaks can contribute to moldy floorboards and walls, so check for moisture under sinks, toilets, washer, and water heater.
If you need help improving the air quality in your home in the San Jose area, be sure to check with DG Heating & Air Conditioning. Our HVAC technicians can assess any problems you have and recommend solutions that can help you improve your home's air quality. Give us a call today at (408) 669-3496.