Whether you’re bundled tightly inside your home during winter or avoiding the sweltering heat outside during summer, breathing the air inside can be detrimental to your health if you don’t know how to improve the indoor air quality in your home.
A home that is effectively sealed and insulated can quickly become a breeding ground for hazardous air particles as the same indoor air is circulated and recirculated.
Installing a whole house air purification system can eliminate over 99% of common infectious diseases. John C. Flood offers air quality solutions, including humidifiers, ventilators, UV lamps, media filters and air purifiers. Schedule service to protect your family’s respiratory health and improve your home’s indoor air quality.
Who Is Sensitive To Poor Indoor Air Quality?
People who have sensitivities to allergens or respiratory issues can suffer if dust mites, skin flakes, pet dander, mold spores, or other harmful toxins are circulating throughout your HVAC system unchecked. So what can be done for indoor air pollution of my home?
Stuffy and stale indoor air can be difficult to avoid during months of more extreme temperatures, with the option of throwing open a window being eliminated. There are a few easy ways you can improve indoor air quality, such as taking steps to increase HVAC efficiency.
Why Is My Indoor Air Quality Poor?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.
Typical Indoor Pollutants
- Combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide, environmental tobacco, and smoke.
- Naturally occurring substances such as radon, pet dander, and mold.
- Pesticides and other harmful poisons.
- Traces of lead.
- Asbestos found in cement sheeting, insulation, and other building materials.
- Ozone from some air cleaners.
Poor indoor air quality have have a negative effect on your overall health and mood. In fact, poor indoor air quality has been linked to asthma, fatigue, and lung disease. Although it can be hard to pinpoint the exact reasons why your indoor air quality might be poor, there are several preventative steps you can take to protect your air quality.
Indoor Air Quality Testing
Before you know how to improve the indoor air quality in your home, it’s crucial to understand the concentration of indoor air pollutants through air quality testing. Most HVAC systems don’t bring in fresh air into the home, so testing your indoor air quality health can establish a baseline for improvement.
The easiest way to conduct indoor air quality testing is to call a flat-rate HVAC company and schedule service with a qualified technician. An HVAC inspection and indoor air quality testing can establish a baseline for how dangerous your indoor air quality levels are.
3 Steps To Improve Indoor Air Quality
Eliminate The Source
The best solution to indoor air quality is controlling the sources of indoor air pollution. Eliminating individual sources of pollutants and minimizing exposure to appliances or materials that excrete harmful emissions can drastically improve indoor air quality.
Source control is the most cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality. While it’s impossible to remove all the causes of allergens in your home, making simple changes can improve indoor hygiene.
- Vacuum frequently, especially on carpeted surfaces that harbor dander and dust.
- Regularly wash bedding, curtains, and plush furniture coverings. Consider using dust mite-proof pillow covers and mattress protectors.
- Remove clutter that can trap and collect dust.
- Remove the asbestos in your home with the help of a leading asbestos removal company.
Improve Ventilation and Humidity Levels
If you have a forced-air heating system, it’s important to constantly monitor how to improve airflow. Poor ventilation, due to clogged air filters or ductwork that needs to be replaced, can lead to stale air.
Dust mites and mold thrive in a moist environment. It’s important to use a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain a healthy level of humidity. The ideal in-home humidity level should hover around 45%.
Use Air Cleaners
An air cleaner can remove harmful particles from your indoor air. If you are sensitive to indoor pollutants and can’t remove the source of the issue, an air purifier can help capture some of the irritants.
Although these small machines can’t completely remove allergens from the air, they can improve indoor air quality. The best solution to install a whole home air purification system.
If You’re Breathing in Dust, Calling John C. Flood is a Must!
You shouldn’t have to suffer the symptoms of poor indoor air quality. If you find that your home is constantly dusty or that your air seems stale, contact John C. Flood to learn how to improve the indoor air quality in your home. Schedule service with Flood today!
