Improve air quality in your home with these easy tips. With a few simple adjustments, you can create an air space that’s efficient and healthy for you and your family.
There are often news stories about air pollution, and how it affects public health. How often do you think about indoor air quality?
Although outdoor pollution is a problem.
The Environmental Protection Agency states that indoor air pollutants may be as high as 100 times more trusted Sources than outdoor pollutants. This could have a greater impact on your health.
Indoor air pollution can have serious health effects. What type of diseases are caused by air pollution?
- cancer
- pneumonia
- asthma
- allergic reactions
- heart disease
- low birth weight
- stroke
Low indoor air quality may pose a higher risk for people with heart or respiratory conditions as well as older adults.
You can reduce your risk of developing certain health conditions by improving your indoor air quality.
How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home
It may also improve your quality of life. Here are eight ways to Improve Air Quality in Your Home.
1. Reduce your exposure to pollutants
It is important to learn about the most common pollutants in your indoor environment and avoid adding them when possible.
Some common pollutantsTrusted Sources includes:
Radon
Radon, a radioactive natural gas, can seep through cracks in the ground and build up in your house, leading to health issues such as lung cancer.
The home test kit is a quick and easy way to find unsafe levels of Radon in your home.
If your testing shows high levels of Radon in your air, you can reduce it by sealing your foundation to prevent the gas from leaking into your living spaces.
Secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke refers cigarette smoke that has been inhaled. The greater riskTrusted Source for developing health problems, including certain types and forms of cancer, may be experienced by anyone who is exposed.
Thirdhand smoking can also be found on surfaces such as furniture and clothes that absorb it.
Avoiding indoor smoking is the best way to prevent second and thirdhand smoke from entering your home. It is a good idea not to smoke indoors if possible.
Thirdhand smoke can still be a harmfulTrusted Source to your health and the quality of your living space.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde, also known as VOC, is a common volatile organic compound or VOC. It’s one of many dangerous gases that household items can emit.
Formaldehyde is commonly found in glues used to make composite wood and other types of furniture. It can get into your indoor air. Exposure to too much formaldehyde can lead to respiratory problems, such as bronchitis.
The following steps can be taken to reduce formaldehyde’s impact on the air quality:
- Opting for used furniture over new — furniture tends to emit lower levels of formaldehyde.
- Choose solid wood furniture instead of composite wood
Cleaning products
Some cleaning products may contain toxic chemicals that can linger in your air.
- Glass cleaners
- Air fresheners
- Bleach
- cleaning sprays
Safer, non-toxic cleaning products will help you maintain a clean home without the harmful chemicals found in standard cleaning products.
See more: How to Protect Your Body from Summer any 5 points?
2. Test your air quality
You can test your air quality to determine if you are concerned about your home’s air quality.
You have two options: go DIY or hire a professional.
Your needs will determine the method you choose. While it is cheaper to do it yourself, a professional will give you more detailed results and personal information.
DIY air quality testing
Online, you can find many air quality test kits. You can test for multiple pollutants with some kits, while others only detect one such as radon.
At-home tests are often not comprehensive. It might be more cost-effective to test at home if you only want to check for one or two specific pollutants. Working with a professional may be better if you need a complete panel of results.
At-home testing can cost as much as $200. However, you might need to pay more if there are more pollutants.
Professional air quality testing
Although a professional is more expensive than a kit for testing, many professionals can offer additional services that will help you to manage the pollution sources found in your test. Pros who specialize in air quality testing might also be trained to remove mold.
3. You can take steps to reduce allergens
Many indoor spaces contain allergens and irritants, such as:
- dust
- mold
- pet dander
- dust mites
These allergens can be controlled to improve the quality of your home and reduce your risk of developing respiratory symptoms.
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Skin rashes
- Itching
You must manage allergens in your home both preventively and regularly.
Preventative strategies for controlling allergens include trusted Sources:
- Regular brushing and bathing of your pet
- To eliminate dust mites, wash your bedding twice a month in hot water
- Choose hypoallergenic pillows and impermeable mattresses to keep dust mites away
You can also eliminate allergens in the indoor air with:
- Vacuuming and dusting are essential to prevent pet dander, dust and mites from building up.
- Use a bleach or soap solution to clean mold from non-permeable surfaces like tiles and metal.
- Removing and replacing carpet, wood, and drywall in areas where mold is growing
4. Use an air purifier
An air purifier can be brought into your home to help keep your air clean. An air purifier that is high-efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filters will do the best job removing harmful particles.
HEPA filters can remove more harmful particles than 99.9% from your air.
Although air purifiers are not able to remove all forms of pollution, you might want to use an air filter to reduce it.
- VOCs
- smoke
- Mold spores
- excess carbon dioxide
- allergens like pet dander
A HEPA filter in an air purifier can help to remove flu viruses from your air.
Are you looking for an air filter, but aren’t sure where to begin? Browse our selection of HEPA air purifiers.
5. Improve ventilation
It is easy and inexpensive to improve the quality of your indoor air. You can open windows and doors to allow outside air to flow through your home, provided that it is free of pollen or clean.
Air can enter your home through vents and weak spots around doors. Although there isn’t much you can do to stop the air from entering your home through these openings it’s worth checking to ensure that vents aren’t causing the problem.
This is how it works:
- Regularly change the filters in your cooling and heating systems.
- Make sure your air ducts are clear and unobstructed. Dust can build up over time.
- Check the filters on appliances that let air in your home, and change them according to manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Reduce dampness
Indoor dampness can cause many health problems, including mold growth. High humidity and dampness can also lead to VOCs being leaked into your air.
There are many factors that can cause damp indoor environments to become damp, such as:
- Humid climates
- Leaky pipes and roofs
- Areas with pools of water
- Low ventilation is recommended in areas that have a lot steam, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Damp conditions can cause many respiratory symptoms including wheezing and coughing.
The following steps can be taken to reduce dampness in your home:
- Use a dehumidifier
- Turning on a fan, opening a window or turning on the air conditioner when you shower or cook
- Find and eliminate areas where there is excess moisture or water pooling in your home
7. Make sure to inspect your heating system
Heating systems can also have an impact on the air quality.
Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves can emit large amounts of harmful particles to your indoor air. This could increase your chance of developing long-term conditions such as lung Cancer.
Heating systems that use older furnaces or gas-fueled heating devices are also possible options.
The potential for more carbon dioxide to be released into your indoor air by gas-powered heating systems is a concern. This odorless gas can cause death and suffocation. Experts recommend direct vent gas appliances to keep the gas from mixing with indoor air.
You could make your indoor air cleaner with electric and solar heating options. These are your best options for cleaner indoor air if you have the choice.
See more: What is Oversleeping and What Causes Oversleeping?
8. Use indoor plants effectively
To help clean your home, many people recommend houseplants.
However, research on this topic is still contradictory.
An 2017 research review showed that house plants can help reduce certain indoor pollutants such as VOCs and fine particles. However, the results of many studies varied in their estimates of how much impact indoor plants have.
A 2019 review Trusted Source has shown that indoor plants are far less effective at removing VOCs than the ventilation in buildings.
If indoor plants become moldy or trigger allergies, they could cause more problems than they solve.
The type of plant is another important factor. All plants can remove pollutants differently.
Plants are more efficient at maintaining clean indoor air.
- Dracaena is a well-known genus of houseplants that has many colors and often has sword-shaped foliage.
- Spathiphyllum also known as peace Lily
- Hedera Helix is common ivy.
- Indoor plants offer many benefits.
Conclusion
There are many factors that can affect the quality of your indoor air. These factors can have a variety of health consequences, including short-term and long-term effects on your health.
If you are concerned about indoor pollution, testing your indoor air quality may provide some relief. You can then take steps to reduce or prevent specific pollutants in your home. This will help you improve the quality of your indoor air and minimize the health risks.
