Is Carpeting Good or Bad for Indoor Air Quality?

• Nick Albert
• 4 years ago
• Categories: roofing
• Tags: hvac, HVAC repair, indoor air quality

It’s important to maintain your HVAC system so it continues running optimally for a long time. By calling on an air conditioning service provider to check and tune up your system before the start of winter and the beginning of summer, you can prevent expensive damagea, keep your HVAC system running for longer and also improve your indoor air quality. 

Speaking of indoor air quality, how does your home’s carpeting figure into this equation? 

Is Carpeting Good or Bad for Indoor Air Quality?

One of the reasons you should never delay HVAC repairs is because you don’t want to keep using an HVAC system that might be slowly polluting the air you breathe. But what about carpeting? Is it also a source of indoor air pollution?

There are two schools of thought when it comes to the benefits of carpeting to indoor air quality or the lack thereof. One: carpeting traps pet dander, dust and other pollutants to reduce airborne particles; two: carpeting is a source of air pollutants due to all the particles trapped in it.

Carpeting doesn’t just make floors more comfortable to walk on: it also traps air pollutants and prevents them from recirculating. Pet dander, dust, tiny insect carcasses and droppings and other particles can get trapped in carpeting. If that’s the case, then shouldn’t you add more in every room in your home so you don’t have to worry about calling an air conditioning service provider to replace your filter?

On the one hand, it’s true that carpeting can trap airborne particles and prevent them from recirculating, which is a good thing because the less polluted the air is in your home, the safer it is for your family, particularly if there are asthma sufferers. 

On the other, however, when your carpeting is inundated with those tiny particles, it can also be a source of pollution in itself. Imagine your little one playing on and touching your carpeting all the time. What particles and germs might be crawling all over it?

Carpeting can be great. It makes your home look and feel more comfortable while also keeping the floor warmer and softer for walking around without shoes and socks on. It can also serve as cushioning in the event your child trips and falls. But the benefits that your carpeting offers diminish if you don’t maintain it with frequent cleaning. 

When Does Carpeting Become Unsafe?

Carpeting is safe for indoor air quality, but it does have its limits. Your carpeting is unsafe if:

• You don’t vacuum it often,
• You don’t give it an occasional shampooing,
• It’s too old and faded and has lost the thickness of a dirt-trapping fabric,
• It’s exposed to moisture all the time, which means it probably harbors mold,
• You didn’t clean and dry it out completely after it got submerged in water, or
• It was in dirty floodwater, at which point it should be thrown out.

If your carpet is dirty, you might notice these health problems in your household:

• Skin irritation
• Eye irritation
• Nose and throat irritation
• Headaches
• Coughing or sore throat and sneezing
• Breathing difficulties
• Asthma flareups 

How Can Carpeting Be Safe?

You can still enjoy carpeting and rugs as long as you clean them regularly with a strong vacuum cleaner equipped with a good filter. Washing and drying them properly is also important. Here are some ways to be safer when you installing new carpet:

• Google “air conditioning repair near me” to have your HVAC  system serviced by a trained technician first. You don’t want pollutants being discharged by your HVAC  unit only to be trapped in your new carpeting. At the very least, have your HVAC system cleaned by a professional.
• Do some research on the safest types of carpeting from reputable brands. Choose carpeting made with the most natural materials. Learn about the way the carpeting is made, if possible. Check on the type of adhesives used for installing them, as well. Low-emission carpeting or those considered “green” are generally safer.
• Before installation day, get in touch with your carpet installer and talk to them about any requests, such as airing out the carpeting by unrolling it outside before taking it inside your home. Prepare a clean area where they can let the carpeting air out for at least half an hour.
• Request low-emission or non-VOC adhesives for installing the carpeting.
• Hire only a reputable contractor to be sure they follow the correct standards for installing the carpeting
• It’s a good idea to stay out of your home while the carpeting is being installed. You should also stay away for a few days after.
• Air out the room where the carpet is installed for two to three days. Use fans to blow  out the pollutants and chemical fumes.
• If you weren’t able to have your HVAC system serviced before the installation, call your HVAC repair and cleaning professional a few days after. Some of the pollutants and chemicals from it might remain in the ductwork.
• Follow the manufacturer or contractor instructions for cleaning and maintaining your carpet.

Indoor air quality is very important for the health and well-being of your household. You should do everything you can to reduce the sources of air pollution in your home. It’s okay to have carpeting and rugs, but don’t neglect them. Failing to maintain them by vacuuming and shampooing can result in all sorts of pollutants getting trapped in them. You might feel these effects before you see them.                                     

You should also be diligent in maintaining your HVAC system, as a neglected HVAC unit can also quickly turn into the reason for poor indoor air quality To be sure about your indoor air quality, you can call a professional to make an inspection. 

You can also search online for “air conditioning repair near me” to have a broken HVAC system fixed or replaced before it affects the health of your household. Get in touch with Albert Air. Call us at (714) 526-6368 or fill out this form for a free estimate.