At Fujitsu General, we realise that you spend a lot of time in your home, and that the quality of the air inside it should be as high as possible. Our range of heat pumps / air conditioners are designed to not only heat and cool your home to your desired temperature, but maintain a comfortable level of humidity and help mitigate health risks with the best possible air quality.

Consistent exposure to poor air quality can negatively affect the health of you and your family. Keep reading to learn how to detect the signs of poor air quality, what causes contaminated air indoors, and how to improve the situation at home to provide a cleaner, healthier space for your family.

Signs of Poor Air Quality at Home

There are several signs that the air quality in your home could be improved. While these indicators are not absolute, they may have noticeable effects on the health of you and your loved ones.

Bad Odours

In addition to being unpleasant to deal with, bad odours can signify poor air quality. They can result from a variety of sources, including pet dander, cooking and mould growth. Identifying where the odour is coming from and treating it at the source is the best way to combat bad smells and help improve air quality at home.

Hot or Cold Spots

Hot or cold spots are the result of uneven temperature distribution and another indication of indoor air quality that could be improved. Making the temperature more uniform throughout your home will help to address the unstable indoor air caused by large fluctuations in temperature.

High Humidity

Excessive levels of humidity can create an uncomfortable living environment and may also encourage the growth of mould and mildew. High humidity levels can be the result of several external factors, or from cooking or showering. Addressing the cause of the increased humidity levels will reduce the moisture level in your home, promoting a stable indoor environment.

High Levels of Dust

Dust mites, pollen, microplastics and bacteria. Ensuring your home is as dust-free as possible will help to improve air quality in your home.

Physical Symptoms of Bad Air Quality

Any of the following personal symptoms could be an indication of poor air quality. Please note that none of these issues are certain to have been caused by contaminated indoor air quality, and that there are other factors that could lead to you experiencing them. If you are worried about any personal health effects of bad air quality, consult a doctor.

Allergic Episodes or Allergy Irritation

Poor air quality in your home can trigger allergies and exacerbate their effects. You may experience irritation or extended periods of discomfort if you are constantly exposed to poor indoor air quality.

Headaches, Fatigue or Dizziness

Breathing in contaminated air may encourage the onset of headaches. It may also lead to feeling fatigued or dizzy on regular occasions. Reducing the levels of dust and airborne pollutants inside your home may reduce the severity of headaches, fatigue or dizziness.

Irritated or Dry Skin

Stale indoor air can cause discomfort and heighten the impacts of skin conditions. Your skin may feel dry and irritated as a result of exposure to poor indoor air quality. Irritated skin may be an indicator that the air in your home needs a higher moisture content.

Coughing or Chest Congestion

An agitated respiratory system can cause ongoing chest congestion and coughing symptoms. While these effects are usually a good sign that the air quality in your home is dusty and contaminated, you could be experiencing a more serious condition. Contact a doctor if you experience these symptoms regularly, or if you have difficulty breathing.

How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

As we have listed above, there could be a number of signs of poor indoor air quality that may need addressing. The following suggestions can help improve the air quality in your home. For more information, Fujitsu General has written a separate article on this topic, which is linked below.

Dust and Deep Clean Your Home

A thorough dusting and deep cleaning may be all you need to do to address the signs of poor air quality in your home. Make sure to clean behind and under furniture, light fixtures and shelves.

If you have pets, check for pet hair and dander in their beds, on their toys and in other areas they frequent.

Increase Ventilation to Reduce Humidity

When possible, open windows and doors in your home to allow air to flow throughout. This should even out the air circulation in your home and improve the quality of air inside. You can use your heat pump / air conditioner’s ‘dry mode’ function, where the fan operates at a low speed, drawing air through the unit to remove moisture from the room. Dry mode is ideal for days when the weather is humid, yet the temperature is too cool to use cooling mode.

Clean your Heat Pump / Air Conditioner

Regularly check your heat pump / air conditioner’s filter for debris or mould. Cleaning the filter when necessary promotes clean indoor spaces free of contaminants. Also check the vents and casing of the unit.

Some Fujitsu General heat pump / air conditioners include Apple-Catechin filters that absorb fine dust, invisible mould spores and microorganisms by static electricity to inhibit and deactivate further growth. Our fulters contribute to a fresher and cleaner living environment for you and your family. The Apple-Catechin filter has been approved by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice programme, giving you peace of mind that our products are asthma and allergy-aware.

The steps listed above can help to identify and respond to any signs of poor air quality in your home. If these steps do not address the symptoms of bad air quality, your heat pump / air conditioner may be due for replacement. If you believe this is the case, read our blog for more information on when it is time to upgrade heat pump / air conditioning systems.