IAQ Series - Part Two - How To Identify Air Quality Problems In Your Western MA Home

4/12/2017 (Permalink)

This blog is Part Two in our Indoor Air Quality Series.

Some health effects can be useful indicators of an indoor air quality problem, especially if they appear after a person moves to a new residence, remodels or refurnishes a home, or treats a home with pesticides. If you think that you have symptoms that may be related to your home environment, discuss them with your doctor or your local health department to see if they could be caused by indoor air pollution.

Another way to judge whether your Western MA home has or could develop indoor air problems is to identify potential sources of indoor air pollution. Although the presence of such sources does not necessarily mean that you have an indoor air quality problem, being aware of the type and number of potential sources is an important step toward assessing the air quality in your home.  For information on different types of pollutants, read Part One of this series.

Finally, look for signs of problems with the ventilation in your home. Signs that can indicate your home may not have enough ventilation include moisture condensation on windows or walls, smelly or stuffy air, dirty central heating and air cooling equipment, and areas where books, shoes, or other items become moldy. To detect odors in your home, step outside for a few minutes, and then upon reentering your home, note whether odors are noticeable.  You can also ask a friend or family member that doesn't live in your home to give your home the smell test.

If you find an area of mold in your Western MA home, give SERVPRO of Hampshire County a call at 413-589-8975. 

In Part Three of our IAQ series, we explore strategies to improve the indoor air quality of your home.

Some content sourced from The Consumer Product Safety Commission