The quality of your home’s indoor air helps everyone breathe easily…or not. There are many factors that harm indoor air quality, all of which can trigger asthma flare-ups and allergic reactions. To help you maintain your home’s air, review what your Orange County mold inspection team wants you to know about unintentional actions causing air quality problems. 

Never Checking the Pollen Count

Knowing what the day’s pollen count is helps you stay on top of indoor air quality. Pollen enters homes through open doors and windows, as well as any cracks and gaps they might feature. By keeping up with the pollen count, you can close your home off and prevent allergens from entering. It also helps to use caulk and weatherstripping materials around doors and windows, which prevent pollen and insects from coming in. It additionally avoids air leaks that lower your home’s energy efficiency. 

Allowing Smoking Indoors

Cigarette and tobacco smoke stain the walls with their tar while also adding carcinogens to the air. Secondhand smoke was shown to harm respiratory health decades ago, and aggravates any existing allergies and asthma. Smoking indoors also increases your home’s fire risk from unattended butts. Make smoking a strictly outdoor activity to keep indoor air healthy and fresh. 

Not Vacuum Frequently Enough

Infrequent vacuuming allows pollen, animal dander, insect remains, dust, dust mites, and dirt to accumulate. Such accumulations are particularly problematic if your home features wall-to-wall carpeting, as these allergens settle within its fibers and get stirred up any time you or a family member walls on the carpet. Weekly vacuuming eliminates allergens to help everyone in your family breathe fresh air. You might also want to schedule annual steam cleaning to deep-clean carpets of assorted allergens. 

Keeping the Humidity Too High 

Without regulating interior humidity, mold gets the chance to flourish. It grows when the humidity level reaches 60% or above, triggering allergic reactions such as coughing, wheezing, sneezing, eye watering, and throat irritation. And since mold feeds on organic materials, such as wood, it can eventually compromise your home’s structural stability if it thrives in the roofing system or within walls. Ensure ventilation systems are operational and consider using a dehumidifier to avoid excessive moisture problems. For mold testing and removal services in Orange County, please contact Mold Masters today.