The Serious Impact of Poor Indoor Air Quality on Your Pets

Indoor air quality, also known as IAQ, is the condition or quality of the air that is inside buildings and homes. It impacts the health, comfort, and well-being of people. If issues like poor indoor air quality aren’t addressed, they can cause health issues to people who are exposed to them. They don’t just cause health problems for people if poor IAQ problems go unaddressed, but also for their pets as well.

In this article, we’ll dive into what causes indoor air quality, the impact of it on your pets, and what YOU can do to ensure good indoor air quality is maintained. Let’s get into it!

How Poor Indoor Air Quality Hurts Your Pets

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?

The first thing that’s always good to start off with is the main root of the issue. It’s better than trying to wave off the side effects that come from it or keep trying to fix small problems repeatedly. However, it’s not always simple to find what the main issue could be. It could be because of one small thing, or an amalgamation of different things.

For example, one source of poor indoor air quality is from combustion sources. Combustion sources are harmful pollutants that are produced by things like cigarettes, burning solid fuels, cooking, or heating appliances. These harmful chemicals, like carbon monoxide, particulate matter, or smoke, can cause breathing issues in the short term and long term. It’s best to address what the source of the chemicals are coming from so you can solve the problem and not have it impact the health of yourself and other people who live in your home.

Another source of poor indoor air quality is chemical emissions. Emissions are vapors that can release volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, which can be carcinogenic. (cause cancer) Things like pressed wood furniture, paints, adhesives, carpets, and cleaning products. Others can be through biological contaminants like viruses, bacteria, dust mites, and pet dander. Even things like mold, asbestos, and pesticides have an impact on IAQ.

It’s not just these factors that exist that cause poor indoor air quality, but also the lack of a means to get rid of them. By taking proactive measures to get rid of them, like having an efficient ventilation system in place, you won’t be affected by the negative side effects of poor IAQ. Aside from your health, how can they impact the health of your pets?

The Negative Side Effects for Your Pets

Even if you may be comfortable with poor IAQ, especially if it only feels like a mild inconvenience, it can have more dire effects than you think. Poor indoor air quality can have extremely severe negative side effects on your pets and their overall health. By ignoring poor indoor air quality issues, pets like dogs and cats can develop lung diseases like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (COPD). Being exposed to toxic particulate matter can induce inflammation and pathological changes to their respiratory mucosa. (Basically, the mucous membrane that lines their respiratory tract, including the nasal cavity, larynx, trachea, and bronchi.) It can even cause dogs to have a higher chance of developing lung cancer if exposed to indoor air pollution by up to 60%.

Aside from the long-term impact of being exposed to poor IAQ, animals will show signs of distress and symptoms long before those long-term side effects come. You may notice that they will show labored breathing, excessive coughing or sneezing, discharge from their eyes and nose, increased drool, lethargy, and difficulty breathing. Most pet owners should be concerned about their pet’s well-being and try to take special measures to address any air quality issues. After all, animals don’t have the power to change the air quality of their environment. So it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that their home is a safe and stress-free space for their pets. So if you feel your home is experiencing air quality issues, get the problems addressed immediately before it takes a toll on your health and your pet’s.

What are the Key Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality You Shouldn’t Overlook

Now that you know what the causes of poor indoor air quality are, as well as the dangers of ignoring and sweeping it under the rug, what are some sure signs that the issues could be caused by poor IAQ? One of the first signs is a noticeable increase in allergy-like symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, or dry skin. You might also notice frequent headaches, fatigue, or a musty smell lingering in the home even after cleaning. These symptoms often get dismissed as seasonal or stress-related, but they can actually be signs your air filtration isn’t working as it should.

If your HVAC system hasn’t been serviced in a while, it may be spreading pollutants throughout the house rather than filtering them out. You may also spot signs in your pets first, like labored breathing or unusual lethargy. When the air inside your home starts to make you or your animals feel worse, it’s time to take those warning signs seriously and look deeper into the root cause. If these issues are definitely worsening and you can’t find the cause of it, don’t let it fester. You can always seek out a licensed HVAC professional who can offer their guidance and insights to get to the bottom of the problem and uncover a solution. Companies like Ambient Cooling and Heating will be able to provide advice and maybe even a solution to your poor IAQ issue.

The Most Common Issues That Severn MD Homeowners Face

The environment could also play a huge role in what could be causing your indoor air quality issues. So, sometimes you can narrow in on what could be causing poor IAQ by where you are located. People in Severn MD can encounter many air quality issues that are a result of the local climate. With high humidity in the summer and inconsistent temperatures throughout the year, it’s common for moisture to build up in vents, basements, and crawl spaces. That extra moisture can lead to mold growth, which becomes a constant threat to indoor air quality if not caught early.

Many older homes in the area also rely on aging HVAC systems that aren’t equipped to handle today’s filtration needs. For Severn, MD homeowners, staying on top of HVAC maintenance and addressing any water or ventilation issues quickly is key to protecting your family and your pets from hidden air quality problems. Although many people might not want to invest in improving their IAQ due to the financial costs, we think that you should never put your health before wealth. By ignoring problematic IAQ issues, it might just cost you in the long run if the problems worsen with time. That’s what we’ve found through our years of experience in the HVAC industry and countless homes we’ve provided our services for.

Steps YOU Can Take to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Maintain Your HVAC and its Filters

If you haven’t looked at your HVAC system lately, it might be time to give it some attention. It plays a much bigger role than just keeping your home cool in the summer or warm in the winter. Your HVAC system is the foundation of indoor air quality, constantly moving air through your home. When filters get clogged or dirty, they lose their ability to trap pollutants like pet dander, dust, and allergens. Instead of filtering those out, the system ends up spreading them around your living space. For pets who are closer to the floor and breathing this air directly, that can be a serious issue. Replacing your air filters regularly is one of the simplest ways to make a real difference in the air you all breathe.

In addition to changing filters, routine HVAC maintenance can help spot issues before they become bigger problems. Professionals can clean ducts, check for leaks, and make sure your system is functioning at peak performance. If air isn’t circulating the way it should, no amount of cleaning or purifying will help much. A properly maintained HVAC setup supports consistent air filtration and ensures harmful particles aren’t lingering in the air. This is especially important in homes with pets, where fur, dander, and even litter dust can become a constant source of contamination. You might not always see the difference, but your pets will definitely feel it. Cleaner air means better breathing, less stress on their respiratory system, and fewer health risks overall.

Take Steps to Keep Your Home Clean

Keeping your home clean is one of the most practical steps you can take to support better indoor air quality. It’s not just about making the space look tidy, either. Every surface in your home collects particles that affect the air you breathe, from pet hair to chemical residues. If those particles aren’t removed regularly, they get kicked up into the air and stay there. Over time, this buildup makes air filtration more difficult and puts more strain on your HVAC system. Pets tend to spend a lot of time close to the ground, so they’re especially sensitive to what’s circulating in the lower levels of your home. Cleaning regularly is a simple habit that can reduce exposure to pollutants and make your environment healthier overall.

Focus on tasks like vacuuming rugs, mopping hard floors, and washing fabrics that trap allergens, like pet bedding and curtains. These routines don’t have to be complicated, but you should try to at least be consistent. If you can, avoid cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals or strong synthetic scents. Those fumes contribute to poor air quality and can irritate your pet’s lungs even more than yours. Using natural or pet-safe products helps reduce the number of harmful substances released into the air. And when possible, keep windows open for airflow or use your HVAC system to help cycle clean air throughout the space. These small efforts can stack up quickly and create a home that feels fresher, smells cleaner, and supports everyone’s health, including your pets.

Conclusion

Now that you, as a homeowner, know the dangers of poor indoor air quality, the importance of efficient air filtration systems, and the benefits of maintaining your HVAC and its air filters, you can keep your home safe, clean, and happy for your furry friend. Animals depend on us for their safety and wellbeing, so any good homeowner will do their best to make sure their pets’ health isn’t compromised. By investing in a good HVAC company that can perform regular inspections, offer insightful advice, and get to the root of any indoor air quality issues, your pet will continue to live a long and happy life.

Are you unsure if your air quality is compromised? Do you need your HVAC air filters changed? Maybe even just receive some advice to promote good IAQ? Contact Ambient Cooling and Heating today for expert advice and services. When it comes to any of your heating and cooling needs, we’ve got you covered.