How Indoor Air Makes Allergies and Asthma Worse

Allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions can be terrible to try to keep under control, especially during the spring when pollen levels are high and you and your family are spending more and more time stuck indoors.

Many people assume that these kinds of health issues are caused by contaminants and particles in the outdoor air, and spending more time in your homes will solve the problem. But actually, indoor air can contain two to five times the concentration of some air pollutants as outdoor air, according to the EPA, and many of your health symptoms can be traced back to issues inside your house.

Here’s what you should know about how indoor air can make allergies worse and how you can create a healthy home for your family.

Understanding Indoor Air Quality’s Effect on Your Health

There are a number of ways that your indoor air quality can become polluted or harmful for your health.

• VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) from the building materials in your home and products like paint and cleaning supplies

• Increased moisture levels from cooking, taking hot showers, and generally high humidity levels that lead to mold growth

• Pet pander, dust, and dirt circulating in your HVAC system and breathing air, especially if your home isn’t regularly cleaned 

• Radon entering through your basement and crawlspaces

• Air leaks in your building’s exterior letting in pollen and outdoor air pollution

What symptoms can you experience from poor indoor air quality? Here are a few of the common ones:

• Eye, nose and throat irritation

• Headaches, nausea, and dizziness

• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Hypersensitivity and allergies

• Coughing and sneezing

What Indoor Air Pollution Solutions are Available?

Even if you’re experiencing some of the above symptoms, how can you be sure what air quality problems you have in your home? A home performance audit is a great place to start. Also called home energy audits, these detailed evaluations aren’t just to help you save money on heating and cooling costs and improve home comfort (though they definitely do!). Our audits include a thorough analysis and inspection of your home, including:

• Blower door testing

• Infrared thermal imaging

• Combustion heating system safety testing

• Radon testing

With the results of your home performance audit, you’ll have a much clearer idea of where home improvement work will make the most difference to your air quality and home comfort. Using the data from blower door testing and thermal imaging, for example, can be used to upgrade your home’s insulation and air sealing, helping to eliminate moisture issues and air leaks that are letting outdoor contaminants inside. 

Working to Keep Your Home and Your Family Safe

At Wisconsin Home Improvement, our priority has always been to provide services that improve the lives of homeowners in and around the Milwaukee area, and the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t changed those goals. We’re committed to health and safety for our entire community, and are taking increased safety precautions for all new appointments. Please don’t hesitate to give our team a call with any questions about our process.

Improve your indoor air quality and reduce allergy and asthma in your home. Call 262.345.9922 or contact us to schedule a home performance audit and indoor air quality testing near you.