Indoor vs. Outdoor Air Quality: Which Is Worse?

The air quality in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area constantly changes and is heavily affected by things like weather conditions and seasonal factors. Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, the air you breathe significantly impacts your health and well-being. There’s an ongoing debate about indoor vs. outdoor air quality and which one is worse for you. The experts at Trio Heating & Air have some helpful insight about which type of air quality is worse for your health, and what you can do about it.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Air Quality: A Quick Comparison

Air quality and health are closely related, but what’s the difference between outdoor and indoor air pollution and quality? The term air quality refers to the condition or state of the air within the surrounding environment and is influenced by both outdoor sources and indoor materials and activities. In terms of the impact of poor air quality, indoor air may be more dangerous because it doesn’t have the same level of ventilation and access to fresh air as outdoor air.

Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

It may be surprising to learn that many sources of indoor air pollution could impact your health. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not adding enough outdoor air to the inside of your home, which can dilute the emissions that come from these indoor sources.

Here are some of the most common sources of indoor air pollution:

• Building materials like flooring products, paint, and drywall
• Cleaning products that contain various chemicals
• Furnishings, paint, and other products that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Burning fuels like wood, gas, or kerosene for heating or cooking
• Pests, dust mites, mold, pollen, and pet dander
• Household activities like cooking and smoking
• Outdoor pollutants like smog that enter the home
• Improper or inadequate routine HVAC maintenance

Understanding Outdoor Air Pollution and Its Effects

Outdoor air pollution levels are significantly influenced by human activities, including transportation (such as cars, buses, and airplanes), industrial processes, and waste disposal. It’s also affected by natural phenomena like wildfires and dust storms.

Outdoor air is generally more ventilated and diffused than indoor air, but still contains harmful pollutants that impact indoor air quality as well. The outdoor air pollution effects over both the long and short term may have a significantly negative impact on human health and well-being.

How Poor HVAC Maintenance Makes Indoor Air Quality Worse

Routine AC maintenance and air quality are closely related. Failing to schedule routine preventative HVAC maintenance may worsen indoor air quality over time. Here’s how poor HVAC maintenance affects indoor air quality:

• Neglecting to replace blocked or clogged HVAC air filters prevents the system from trapping airborne pollutants, such as dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other contaminants.
• Moisture buildup in poorly maintained HVAC systems supports the growth of harmful mold and mildew, both known to cause a variety of health issues.
• Leaky, cracked, or missing ductwork may allow various harmful airborne particles to enter your home.
• A poorly maintained HVAC system often has airflow issues that restrict clean air from flowing through your vents, causing you to breathe contaminated, stale air rather than fresh, clean air.

Health Impacts of Poor Air Quality (Indoors and Out)

Indoor and outdoor air pollution may cause a variety of health issues. These issues may appear shortly after a single exposure or after repeated, long-term exposure to certain pollutants. Some long-term effects may be severely debilitating or even fatal and can show up years after exposure has occurred, while prolonged exposure to certain pollutants like carbon monoxide can result in death.

Here are some of the health impacts associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution:

• General malaise: Many people exposed to indoor and outdoor pollution experience symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache, dizziness, and fatigue.
• Respiratory issues: Exposure to both outdoor and indoor air pollution is associated with increased asthma attacks and other respiratory issues, including chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
• Cardiovascular impacts: Long-term exposure to indoor and outdoor pollution may increase the risk of heart attacks or other cardiovascular issues, such as irregular heartbeats.
• Reduced lung function: Exposure to any form of air pollution may impair lung capacity and make breathing more difficult, both in the short term and long term.
• Long-term impacts: Some people may develop chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, or immune system impairments after long-term exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution.

What Can You Do About It?

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to improve the air quality in your home. Knowing how to improve indoor air quality is the best way to keep you and your family healthy and safe. Professional air quality monitoring provides you with detailed insights and the information you need to make well-informed decisions.

The home air quality solutions provided by Trio are designed to help maintain your home’s indoor air quality, keeping it pure and clean.

• Whole-house purification systems: A whole-house air purification system from Trio works to clean the air in your home, trapping and removing harmful bacteria, neutralizing smoke and mildew, and proactively preventing airborne irritants like dust mites from entering the air.
• Air scrubbers: An HVAC air scrubber is a specialized air filtration system that connects to your ductwork and removes harmful contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria, and debris, when the HVAC fan is in operation.
• Air duct sealing: Sealing air ducts eliminates leaks, improves airflow, enhances energy efficiency, and prevents moisture, dust, and other harmful materials from entering your vents when the HVAC system is in operation.
• Air duct services: Routinely scheduling Trio to clean your air ducts and replace the filters is another smart way to keep your home’s indoor air quality safe and clean.

Contact Trio Today!

When it comes to indoor vs outdoor air quality and which is worse, the answer depends on the proactive measures you take and your level of exposure to both indoor and outdoor pollutants. The team at Trio provides comprehensive professional indoor air quality services in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area designed to keep your home’s indoor air as clean and healthy as possible.

Contact us today to schedule an indoor air quality (IAQ) inspection or one of our other expert indoor air quality services.