At Quick Solutions Air Conditioning & Heating, good indoor air quality is a top priority. Our team understands how breathing clean air can improve your quality of life and keep you and your family healthy. Even though we offer professional air quality testing services, we want every home to have clean air, which is why we have also shared some simple ways you can test your indoor air quality at home.
3 Types of Air Quality Tests
Carbon Monoxide Testing
Carbon monoxide in your home is incredibly hazardous and can even be deadly. CO poisoning isn’t that uncommon since many kinds of appliances and HVAC units can emit carbon monoxide into your home. As a colorless odorless gas, it is important to know how to detect CO levels in your air.
- The best way to test for carbon monoxide is to install a detector in your home.
- It is important to put a detector on each floor of your house, including the basement or attic. I
- It is also important to put detectors near bedrooms since most poisonings occur while an individual is sleeping.
To learn more about how to install a carbon monoxide detector, follow this step-by-step guide.
Radon Testing
Like carbon monoxide, radon is a dangerous gas that you cannot see or smell. Exposure to this natural radioactive gas has been linked to lung cancer, making it incredibly harmful. Radon tests are easy to purchase and use.
- There are two types of radon tests that you can do at home to test the level of your air quality: short-term test and long-term test. Even though long-term tests produce more accurate results, short-term tests can give you results within 2 to 90 days.
- About 95% of radon testing is conducted with a charcoal test kit since it is easy to do yourself and inexpensive. Charcoal is a very porous substance, which allows it to collect radon atoms in the air and hold them. You can then send your test kit to a laboratory that can measure the levels of radon in your home.
Pollen and Mold Testing
If you are experiencing allergy-like symptoms, including itchy eyes and throat, coughing, dizziness, or shortness of breath, your air could be contaminated with allergens or mold. Living with contaminants can be incredibly hazardous to your health, especially when toxic molds go unattended.
- Allergen test kits are designed to test the levels of these contaminants in your air.
- Most testing kits are able to test for a wide variety of allergens at once, including pollen, mold, dust mites, dander, skin cells, and more.
Learn more about the Sylvane Allergen Test Kit here.
It is important to note that if one of these DIY tests comes back with dangerous or harmful results, it is a good idea to follow up with a professional air quality inspection. Our staff strongly encourages you to use these tests to gauge whether there could be a problem but to follow up with an expert if the results show that your air quality could be improved.
How To Improve Indoor Air Quality
- Maintain a humidity level between 30-50%. If your home is too humid, it could create mold in your ductwork. Keeping things balanced will prevent mold growth and keep you breathing easy. You can easily control the humidity of your home with a humidifier and dehumidifier.
- Keep your floors clean. Dust and dirt in your home usually start on the floor level before making their way into your air. Regularly vacuuming and mopping your floors will keep it dust free and make it harder for dirt, dust, pollen, and dander to make it into your HVAC systems.
- Do not smoke inside your home. Most people recognize how smoking is bad for your health, but it is also bad for your air quality. If you or someone you live with smokes, keep it outside to protect the quality of your air for the rest of your family.
- Change your air filters. This is a simple thing to do and can really make a difference. Not only does a dirty air filter impact your air quality, but it can also force your HVAC unit to work inefficiently. Changing your air filter is an easy way to breathe cleaner air and keep energy bills at lower costs.
- Schedule duct cleaning inspections. The best way to ensure your air quality is at its best is to schedule regular inspections with a professional. At Quick Solutions Air Conditioning & Heating, our Plano duct cleaning experts can properly diagnose your HVAC system and find any problems that are hindering your air quality.
To learn more about indoor air quality in Plano or to follow up with an inspection service, contact Quick Solutions Air Conditioning & Heating at (469) 721-6659.