Warning Signs of Bad Air Quality in Your Home

March 2, 2021 - Published by Scott's Air

Illustration of bad indoor air quality checklist next to a cut-out of a house that shows a clear blue sky as the background.

Did you know that air quality in your home is 2-5 times worse than outside air? Bad air quality in homes is very common and can lead to some serious medical conditions if untreated. From dirty carpets to chemicals in your cleaning solutions, there are a myriad of ways for your home air quality to become unsafe. Here are some of the warning signs of bad air quality in your home.

Common Airborne Contaminants

Improving bad air quality starts with identifying the individual elements that cause the contamination. Here are some of the more common airborne contaminants in the average home.

Dust Mites
Pollen
Pet Dander
Chemicals in Cleaning Supplies
Smoke from Burned Food and Tobacco-Based Products
Mold
Mildew
Pesticides
Formaldehyde (found in adhesives used to build furniture, carpets and paneling)
Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) & Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) (found in many plastics, TVs and computer monitors to prevent them from catching fire)
Polyurethane (a respiratory toxin found in many consumer products including sealants for floors and furniture and is also in some mattresses)

Warning Signs of Bad Air Quality

House Guests Are Always Coughing or Sneezing

Have you noticed that when you have house guests, they always seem to be sneezing, coughing or experiencing other symptoms related to congestion and allergies? Do you feel more congested at home than your work or when you are on vacation? If so, that may mean that your home air is not safe for you.

Beware the Aftermath of Home Renovation

If you have recently renovated areas of your home, there are multiple bad air quality factors at play. If you are pulling up carpeting and breaking down cabinets, you are likely unearthing a host of contaminants that have been hidden over the years. Once more, the fumes that are emitted from paint, carpeting adhesive and other renovation products are making your home air more toxic. Be sure to wear a mask and open some windows and doors to keep the fresh air flowing.

Dust Buildup is More Frequent

Have you noticed that dust seems to pile up very quickly in your home? Those in more rural or industrial areas typically see a lot more dust. If you are dusting too frequently, it might be a sign that you need to fit your air conditioning system with stronger filters or UV light. You also may want to consider an air purifier.

How to Improve Bad Air Quality?

There are many tactics that help you toward the goal of having clean, healthy home air including:

Change Your Air Filters Regularly
Choose Hardwood or Tile Flooring Instead of Carpet, Laminates or Vinyl
Purchase an Air Purifier
Consider a Ventilator
Install a UV Lamp into Your AC System
Open Windows When Weather Permits for an Influx of Fresh Air
Clean Air Intake Vents Regularly

Keep a Regular Maintenance Schedule

Scott’s Heating and Air Conditioning is known for great prices on air conditioning systems, but we are also experts in-home air quality. Join Scott’s Club to get regular checkups on your air conditioner and your home air quality.

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Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning is a full-service heating and air conditioning company and a Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealer in Central Florida. Whether you need repair, maintenance, or installation of a new heating or cooling system, we provide efficient, cost-effective, and professional service. When it’s hot, call Scott!

Tags: air purifier, home air quality

Categorised in: Air Filters, Air Purifiers, Indoor Air Quality, Thing You Should Know

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UPDATE 12/11/25-
Mr. Scott, the owner took the time to speak with me the day before to take ownership of the unfortunate event, and to rectify it, he personally came over to speak to me and issued a refund for the blower motor replacement to honor me being a customer and purchasing the unit from them in recent times. This speaks a lot about his integrity and customer centric approach. Even though I didn’t hear from them initially for a few months, this was a great gesture in difficult times, and I appreciate this, therefore updating my review.

STAY AWAY!!!

I purchased a new AC system from Scott’s Air & Heat in 2022 for approximately $7,000. Since then, I have already spent over $1,500 on repairs in 2 years. Despite the system having a 10-year parts warranty, I was charged $650 for labor alone to replace a blower motor—a repair that took about one hour to complete. Another reputable company quoted $500 total, including both parts and labor, for the same job.

Additionally, I was charged $258 for the same issue just a week prior, and when the problem recurred, the company billed me again instead of honoring their previous service. Attempts to reach the owner or manager for a resolution went unanswered.

Overall, I found their pricing to be excessive and their customer service severely lacking. I would not recommend this company based on my experience.

Response from the owner:Hi, Thank you for taking Scott's call today & allowing us to make this right. We're looking forward to meeting you tomorrow with the hopes of being able to earn your 5-star rating. We genuinely care for our customers and their families and want you to be 100% satisfied. Thank you again.

Robin Preucil

It’s been a long process, but Scott did call personally to make sure that our ac unit was working properly. They even upgraded to the correct size unit we needed after many repairs and issues. I appreciate the follow through and transparent communication! They will make sure to follow up and help when needed. Thank you Scott and team!!!!

Response from the owner:Hi Robin, Thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to make this right. We're happy to hear your system is running good now & we were able to turn your experience around. Thank you for trusting us with your home.

Karon Phillips

12/11/25

Same day update! I want to applaud Scott, the owner, for contacting me about my concerns regarding the labor charge for our last job. It was a disappointment that I had to have such an expensive charge on a relatively new unit. However, we talked about it, and he’s going to try to help. I appreciate any owner who listens to customers and wants to try to make things right. Thank you, Scott. I guess I don’t have to shop around for a new AC company for now.

12/11/25
Just to clarify. My response says that I’m frustrated to pay for labor for a warranty repair. I didn’t understand this was a warranty repair and I always am fine with paying for labor if a job is done. I believe my review explains my frustration with flat fees no matter how long the job takes.

10/8/25
Update today. The price that was quoted me was not only labor. They are charging flat fees for jobs. This is a change from the past with HVAC companies , but with more explanation and a little flexibility, I think we will stay with Scott’s for the time being. We’ll see how it goes. They still remain extremely responsive and professional and kind. This is worth something. They also come quickly when you have a problem.

This is a big change in my review for this company. Over the past five years things have changed. The company I used to trust I am now very skeptical of. They no longer charge labor by the hour so that you pay more for something that is more difficult and less for something that is less difficult. Just flat fees. And extremely high ones at that! Guess I’m looking for a new company now.

Response from the owner:Hi Karon, Thank you for trusting us with your home all these years. I can understand your frustration in having to pay labor for a warranty repair. The warranty from the manufacturer (not us) only covers the part itself. We value our customers and our community & want to make sure we take care of you and your home. We've left you a message & hope you'll return our call so we can make this right.

Mia Torres

Chelsie was absolutely amazing!! She was on time, super friendly and personable! She was knowledgeable and even took the time to explain the problem and solution with our ac. I highly recommend them to service your HVAC needs!