Air quality in Metuchen, New Jersey buildings reflects the interaction between the building systems, the outdoor climate, contamination sources, and construction techniques. Moisture levels inside the building and its activities and processes can also affect indoor air quality and the occupants’ quality of life.

Five Benefits of Good Indoor Air Quality

When people consider dangerous air quality in New Jersey, they usually consider outdoor pollution. However, many people are unaware that indoor air quality in their homes can be worse than outside air. When the air quality inside the house is good, the occupants experience several benefits.

Benefit One: Breathing Easier

Even though the air pollutants you breathe are invisible, they can affect your health. Polluted indoor air can cause difficulty breathing and trigger asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. Prolonged exposure to polluted air may lead to heart disease and cancer. Poor indoor air quality affects everyone, but individuals with chronic lung diseases like asthma are more susceptible.

Indoor air pollution can come from various sources, including secondhand tobacco smoke, gas stoves and appliances, debris from previous activities, and mold and dust mites. Even cleaning and furniture products can release harmful components into the air, negatively affecting a person’s breathing ability. Studies show that individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are especially at risk. On the positive side, research also indicates that improving indoor air quality in the home enhances the breathing ability and overall health of children with lung conditions.

Benefit Two: Better Sleep

Sleep is crucial in maintaining mental, physical, and emotional health. Chronic sleep deprivation negatively affects heart and brain function and increases the risk of kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Research suggests that individuals living in areas with high levels of outdoor air pollution tend to have poorer sleep quality than those in less polluted regions. Similarly, inadequate indoor ventilation can lead to restless nights and daytime drowsiness.

Many people find sleeping in a cool environment easier with a gentle breeze from an open window or a fan. In contrast, stuffy rooms with unfavorable air temperature and quality make it challenging to fall asleep.

Ventilation significantly influences a room’s air quality. Keeping windows and doors closed or having poor ventilation can cause carbon dioxide levels to rise to 3,000 ppm during sleep, which is several times higher than the recommended level.

Allergens like mold can disrupt sleep by triggering allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and a runny nose. Bedroom air often contains common allergy triggers like pet dander and dust mites. Prolonged exposure to these triggers throughout the night can result in insomnia, restless sleep, and daytime drowsiness.

Indoor air pollution has been associated with sleep apnea, which, in turn, increases the risk of type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, liver problems, and heart issues. However, improving indoor air quality in homes can lead to better sleep, a refreshed awakening, and the energy and motivation needed to live life to the fullest.

Benefit Three: Minimized Allergy and Asthma Symptoms

Individuals dealing with asthma and allergy symptoms have a highly sensitive respiratory system. When exposed to asthma triggers, their airways may swell up, produce excess mucus, and result in wheezing or coughing.

Several indoor environmental factors can trigger asthma. Since most people spend up to 90% of their day at home, individuals with asthma and allergies must have a healthy, clean indoor environment.

Researchers believe that poor indoor air quality can worsen asthma symptoms and play a role in the development of asthma in susceptible individuals. Indoor air triggers, defined as irritants or allergens, include tobacco smoke, nitrogen dioxide, household dust, and chemical odors.

Benefit Four: Odor Elimination

A healthy house should have a healthy smell, free from lingering musty smells, fumes, or foul odors. Some homeowners use air fresheners, which only mask the problem and can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. Moreover, the chemicals emitted by air fresheners can cause fatigue, dizziness, and respiratory irritation.

A whole-home air purification system is one of the best ways to remove unwanted odors. Air purification systems create a healthier breathing environment by replacing stale, contaminated indoor air with fresh, purified outside air. Quality air filtration systems also help eliminate odors by preventing mold, germs, and pollutants from entering and circulating throughout your home.

Benefit Five: Improved Mental and Physical Health

Indoor air quality impacts people’s ability to live fully and participate in society, maintaining their healthiest lifestyle. Cleaner, healthier indoor air improves cognition and productivity and helps minimize the spread of airborne diseases. Air purifiers can fight against outdoor air pollutants and reduce environmental triggers for respiratory issues.

Taking Active Steps to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Improving indoor air quality requires the expertise of a professional HVAC technician to ensure a healthier and more comfortable living environment. These professionals can assess your HVAC system, clean, or replace filters, and address issues like clogged ducts or improper ventilation. By letting us optimize your HVAC system, you can significantly reduce airborne contaminants and enhance overall air quality.

Improving indoor air quality in the home involves practical steps such as not smoking indoors and minimizing using aerosol sprays, cleaning products, and perfumes that can contaminate the air. Additionally, regular maintenance of the HVAC system by professionals ensures proper filtration of pollutants and adequate ventilation. Our HVAC professionals at First Choice Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical can help determine if your indoor air quality would benefit from a whole-house air purifier, humidifier, or dehumidifier to reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.

Our HVAC technicians can also recommend and install air purification systems tailored to your needs. These systems effectively filter out pollutants, allergens, and odors, creating cleaner and fresher air in your home. Whether it’s a whole-house air purifier, humidifier, or dehumidifier, our professionals will guide you in selecting the right solution to address your indoor air quality concerns. Investing in these advanced technologies creates a healthier and more enjoyable living space for you and your family.

Routine maintenance by a professional HVAC technician is vital to sustaining improved indoor air quality. Regular inspections and tune-ups ensure optimal system functioning, prevent the accumulation of pollutants, and maintain clean airflow. By scheduling annual maintenance appointments, potential issues can be caught early and promptly addressed. This proactive approach preserves indoor air quality, extends the lifespan of your HVAC system, and saves you from costly repairs in the future. Partnering with our knowledgeable HVAC technicians at First Choice Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical is the key to breathing easier and enjoying the benefits of a cleaner and healthier home.

Work With Heating and Cooling Pros in Metuchen

At First Choice Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical, we take pride in offering our customers a wide range of services. We strive to ensure that the people in our community can come home to comfort. In addition to our scheduled services, we provide 24/7 emergency repairs when you need them the most. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, employ NATE-certified technicians, and partner with leading HVAC and plumbing manufacturers.

Our services include HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance. We install heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, and water heaters. We also offer ductless mini splits and perform indoor air quality checks. Our plumbing services include general plumbing repair, toilet repair, sump pumps, garbage disposal repair, and fixture repair. Contact First Choice Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical for HVAC services you can rely on.