Let’s be real! We all get lazy sometimes. Who among us hasn’t taken a sabbatical from the dusting? Allowed our fluffy friend to lounge on the old quilt? Marveled at the morning dew on the bathroom’s glass pane?

As fun as it is to live in a mess sometimes, turning a blind eye to dirt and grime could have adverse health consequences. A dirty home is a danger zone. Your home could be a haven for allergens, mold, mildew, and other pollutants, like radon, that are carcinogenic.

Want to know whether your home is a breeding ground for disease-causing micro-organisms? Watch out for these signs!

1. Unpleasant Odor

If your humble abode emits an unpleasant odor, there’s a good chance you’ve mold build-up. Foul odors are often the result of stale air that’s gone stagnant for an extended period.

These stinks could mean you’ve got a fungal infestation brewing thanks to hot and humid conditions perfect for microbial growth. Or perhaps it’s pollen season, and the dust has hit the fan – literally! If the odor in your home just won’t clear even after you’ve lit several scented candles, it’s a sign your place needs more ventilation.

In extreme cases, odors from pollutants can cause nausea, dizziness, and headaches and even affect your mood and stress levels, depending on how much of the stink you breathe.

Solution

Turn on the fan or open the windows to get rid of the unpleasant odor. If the smell persists, consider investing in a HEPA air purifier. The best purifiers for odor removal feature both HEPA and Activated Carbon filters.

2. High Humidity

A humid home is another sign your home is getting less than optimal indoor air quality. If your home feels like a sauna, it’s not just your skin that’s in a sweat – your indoor air may have also hit a favorable zone for microbial activities to thrive.

All that moisture hanging around means moldy city, and you don’t want a green carpet all over your walls. Besides ruining your home’s aesthetics, mold exposure can lead to upper respiratory tract symptoms like coughing and wheezing.

Solution

Consider investing in a whole-house dehumidifier. For minor humidity issues, you could simply use an exhaust fan to push warm and moist air outside.

3. Hot and Cold Spots

Hot and cold spots in your home mean some areas aren’t getting the perfect temperature. This is probably because your HVAC can’t handle the size of your place.

If you’re noticing some areas that just don’t seem to reach the right temperature, there’s probably not enough airflow happening with your HVAC system. That means your unit might be too small to circulate the air throughout your place.

And if you’re not getting consistent temperatures in your space, you’re probably not getting even filtration, either. Uneven filtration can lead to dust build-up, not to mention fungal growth that thrives in cold places, including cold spots in your home.

Solution

Ensure your system is big enough to comfortably climate your whole space so you and your family can relax in a uniform environment. If you aren’t sure of the right HVAC size for your home, heating system experts at ARS Rescue Rooter can help. They will also troubleshoot heating problems to help you achieve optimal temperatures throughout your home.

3. Dust Build Up

If you find yourself dusting every five minutes, yet your surfaces still look like a scene from the Dust Bowl, it’s a clear sign your ventilation system needs a check-up.

Besides dust allergies, particles in the air can cause or exacerbate asthma and other respiratory disorders. Not sure whether you’ve dust built up? Examine the area around your air vents. If you see any dust on your filter within a month of changing it, you may have a dust build-up problem in your abode.

Solution

Excessive dust is a sign your HVAC system isn’t effective at trapping dust particles. Consider upgrading to a new HVAC system if the current one is on its last legs. Alternatively, consider scheduling an HVAC maintenance to ensure your system operates optimally.

Wrapping Up

Allergens, pollens, dander, and other pollutants living inside your home can be harmful to your health. The most comprehensive way to get rid of these indoor pollutants is to improve the air quality in your home, which starts with investing in a robust HVAC system.