Sometimes, people talk about going outside for "a breath of fresh air." And there's a lot of truth to that idea. Often, dust, dirt, pollen, and other allergens accumulate in the house, leading to poor indoor air quality. The guide below explains reasons to test your home for these and other contaminants. 

How Is Testing the Indoor Air Quality Beneficial?

1. Identify Pollutants

While contaminated air from outside can seep into homes through open windows and vents, once it is circulating through your ductwork, it doesn't find its way out again as easily. Instead, it will combine with the possible cigarette smoke, pet dander and hair, and cleaning product residue already inside. Testing allows you to identify high levels of these materials, as well as more dangerous ones like mold, asbestos, and radon gas.

2. Improve Health

Prolonged exposure to air pollution can have a negative effect on one's health. Headaches, fatigue, and worsened allergy symptoms are common issues—and those with asthma are more likely to experience attacks. In more severe cases where radon gas or high levels of mold are present, severe respiratory problems, flu-like symptoms, and cancer can also develop. By keeping yourself informed of what's going on in your house, you can take action to remedy the situation.

3. Efficient Heating & Air Conditioning

In addition to altering the temperature in the house, the HVAC also circulates air from room to room. If the air inside the home is dirty, its filter will clog faster, which will force the system to use more energy to maintain the desired temperature, thus, increasing your utility bills. If nothing is done, the debris pulled from the air can damage the unit, which can leave you with costly repairs. By testing the air quality before the winter and summer seasons, you can enhance the HVAC’s performance for when you need it the most.

With indoor air quality testing from River Valley Air Conditioning in Needles, CA, and Kingman, AZ, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Since 1955, these heating and cooling experts have made it their mission to make people feel more comfortable in their own homes. To schedule an appointment, call (928) 718-2520 for their Kingman location or (760) 326-3020 to speak with a helpful team member in Needles. You can also visit them online to learn more about their maintenance plans.