Most people believe outdoor air is always more polluted and unhealthy than indoor air. That’s because many things expose outdoor air to pollution, including exhaust from factories, wildlife smoke, car emissions from traffic, etc. But the truth is that sometimes indoor air can be more polluted and unhealthier than the outside air.
There are both long- and short-term effects that you can experience from having poor quality of air inside your home. Fatigue, dizziness, eye, throat, and nose irritation, and headaches are some short-term effects you can suffer from when you have poor indoor air quality. Some long-term effects of poor indoor air quality include respiratory diseases such as asthma. Since prevention is the best cure, it will help if you improve your indoor air quality to protect your household from suffering from short- and long-term consequences of living in a place with poor air quality.
Improving your indoor air quality should not be a tedious and overwhelming task. It’s something that you can do yourself. Whether you’re living in a single-family home or townhome, an apartment, or an old house, there are multiple ways to improve and protect the air quality inside your home.
1. Ensuring Your HVAC is Delivering Optimal Performance
Investing in a quality air conditioning unit can ensure clean air constantly circulates in your house. Your air conditioner can improve indoor air quality by removing most of the air pollutants in your home. But for your air conditioner to help you achieve a clean and healthy indoor air quality, ensure to clean and maintain it regularly. Several ways can help ensure your unit delivers the best performance. For instance, air duct cleaning can make your air conditioner function accordingly and help prolong the unit’s lifespan.
2. Improve Ventilation
Ensure sufficient air is flowing in your house. Improving ventilation is a cost-free and straightforward way of improving indoor air quality. Opening doors and windows to allow outdoor air inside is an excellent way to improve ventilation. However, only let the outdoor air through if it’s low in pollen or clean. Opening your doors and windows will not only allow oxygen in but also let air pollutants inside your house out.
3. Eliminate Moisture
When moisture and humidity are in your rooms, mold can build up in most places, including the bathroom and kitchen. Getting rid of moisture can help you maintain healthy levels of humidity control. Maintaining healthy humidity levels is crucial for maintaining clean indoor air quality.
Controlling your home’s humidity levels in the range of 35 to 55 percent will reduce the chance of allergens like molds and mites from sharing your home. Don’t share your home with these allergens. They can negatively impact indoor air quality.
4. Have Indoor Plants
Indoor plants such as ferns, devil’s ivy, and peace lilies can purify your home’s air. You can put one or more of these plants in the corners of your house to improve indoor air quality. However, while these plants can soak up pollutants, it will take time to eliminate them.
5. Invest in a Kitchen Exhaust Fan
Your kitchen’s exhaust fan can make a massive difference in improving the air quality inside your home. Every time you cook in your kitchen with a gas stove, ensure to turn on your exhaust fan. Stoves and heaters, especially those burning fuel, can diminish air quality since they release carbon II oxide into the atmosphere. Turning your exhaust fan on can draw gases and particles from the air while cooking and help maintain quality air inside your home.
6. Keep Your Home Free of Chemical Pollutants
Many people believe that factories and pesticides are the source of those chemical pollutants we experience in our livelihood. But many things in your home, such as candles, hairspray, bleach, and perfume, can also produce chemical pollutants that cause bad air quality. Avoid using such items in an enclosed place in your house to maintain ideal indoor air quality.
Take the Necessary Steps to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Several factors can impact your home’s indoor air quality. They can cause a handful of long- and short-term health effects if you don’t take the necessary steps to eliminate or keep them under control. Don’t let your loved ones live in an environment threatening their health. Take the steps required to reduce and prevent specific pollutants. It will help minimize any related health risks and maximize your home’s indoor air quality.
