How To Improve The Quality Of Air In Your Home
We all know that the quality of our environment has a significant impact on our comfort levels, but what you may not believe is that your home’s air quality could be making you sick. Indoor air pollutants are now considered to be just as dangerous as those found outside. It’s time to improve the quality of your home’s air with these easy tips.
Make Use Of Filters
Filters block dust and other pollutants from the air you breathe. They can be placed in the upper part of your ventilation system or ducts. If you can’t, filters can also be placed on your appliances, such as your central heating systems and air-conditioners. Also, ensure that the filters in your home are good enough for trapping those pollutants to ensure that you inhale fresh air as much as possible. You may do this by reducing the humidity indoors and opening windows to allow clean air to circulate properly throughout your homes’ rooms and spaces. Air filters also keep the heating/cooling system clean, so it can operate efficiently and remove contaminants from the environment. The folks behind filterbuy.com noted that you should always keep at least one filter on your heating and cooling system; change them regularly for optimal performance and good indoor air quality! If you have pets, remember that their hair needs to be cleaned off of filters frequently, too! This will help ensure the system can function properly and remove contaminants.
Cleanse the Air with Water
Your body takes in oxygen and expels carbon dioxide as you breathe; plants do this as well, but they also convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis. You can mimic this process by using a plant to clean the air and provide humidity to your space. Indigenous people knew about using plants for purifying their environment, and it is something we can use today. Remove dust from all surfaces, especially window sills and shelves, then place either an individual or a grouping of potted plants throughout your home. This creates an environment that eliminates pollutants
Use Air Fresheners Appropriately
To prevent odors from seeping into hardwood floors or carpets, place fresheners outside of rooms where odors are present. Also, look for natural products that neutralize an unpleasant smell instead of masking them with other fragrances, which can be counter-productive to improving indoor air quality. Avoid using sprays that claim to eliminate odors on carpets or hard surfaces, as they can seal in new contaminants.
Get A Humidifier
As the air becomes dry, humidity goes down. This causes some mold spores to reproduce more than normal and irritates sinus membranes. A humidifier adds moisture back into the air which reduces allergy symptoms and eliminates dust mites, mold spores, bacteria, and other allergens found in home environments. A popular type of humidifier is the cool mist humidifier; they are cost-efficient and safe for use around children since no heat is produced during the vaporization process
Add Fresh Air Inside your Home
Don’t forget about fresh outdoor air when considering indoor air quality! Open windows and doors to bring fresh air inside. If you do not have windows or if it is too cold outside, use a ventilator to pump in fresh air from outdoors. Other ways to bring in the fresh air are with houseplants, opening your fireplace damper when you have a fire lit, or by utilizing kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans that expel stale air outdoors
Avoid Radon
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, invisible radioactive gas. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and can seep into buildings through walls or cracks in foundation floors. This gas becomes trapped inside homes. As the radon decays, it turns into harmful radiation particles that break down cells causing damage to the lungs leading to cancer. You can test your home for radon using test kits found at hardware stores – do not use home testing kits sold on TV infomercials as they are unreliable
If You Have Mold, Get Rid Of It
Mold thrives on moisture and where there is water, mold will follow. If you have a leak, fix it as soon as possible to keep the problem from worsening and spreading. Remove any damp carpets and clean up excess water if you spilled something or your roof had an unexpected leak. To limit humidity levels, so you do not have a mold outbreak, turn the temperature down on your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius), reduce indoor humidity with a dehumidifier or air conditioner, ventilate closed spaces by opening windows or using fans
Look for the ENERGY STAR
Did you know that many household appliances can affect indoor air quality? To ensure your home is as healthy as it can be, look into purchasing appliances with a high Energy Star rating, which means they will have been tested for energy efficiency and meet EPA standards. Appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, clothes washers and -dryers, furnaces/air conditioners, etc., all give off particles so look for those with high ratings when making new appliance purchases! Also, avoid using scented candles or burners, as they emit toxins into the air. . All this can contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). A good way to reduce mold and dust mite allergens is to maintain a temperature in your home that’s at least two degrees higher than the outdoor temperature.
In conclusion, improving the quality of air in your home is necessary to living a healthier life, allowing you more energy and less time spent sick. These methods mentioned will reduce the amount of humidity in your home, bringing down pollutants, and improve the quality of your living environment without using harmful products or expensive equipment. Take some time today to look into ways that you can improve the quality of air in your home!
