7 Ways to Improve Air Quality of Your Home
- Vishant Chandrawar
- May 19, 2023
- 4 min read
Indoor air quality is important for your health and well-being, especially if you have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems. Poor indoor air quality can also affect your mood, energy levels, and sleep quality. Fortunately, there are some simple and effective ways to improve the air quality in your home and reduce the exposure to common pollutants and allergens. Here are some tips to try:
1. Change your AC filter
Your air-conditioning system works hard to keep your home comfortable all year round, but it can also trap dust, pollen, mold spores, and other particles in its filter. If you don't change your AC filter regularly, it can become clogged and reduce the efficiency of your system and the quality of your indoor air. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends changing your AC filter every one to three months, depending on the type of filter and how often you use your system¹.
2. Use cooking vents
Cooking can produce smoke, grease, odors, and gases that can affect your indoor air quality. To prevent these pollutants from spreading throughout your home, use a cooking vent or an exhaust fan whenever you cook on the stove or in the oven. This will help remove the unwanted particles and moisture from your kitchen and improve the ventilation in your home¹.
3. Keep your rugs and carpets clean
Rugs and carpets can add warmth and coziness to your home, but they can also harbor dust mites, pet dander, dirt, and other allergens that can trigger respiratory problems. To keep your rugs and carpets clean and fresh, vacuum them at least once or twice a week with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter². You can also opt for hard-surface flooring instead of wall-to-wall carpeting to reduce the accumulation of allergens in your home².
4. Control humidity in your home
High humidity levels can promote the growth of mold and mildew, which can cause allergic reactions and respiratory infections. Mold and mildew can grow on damp surfaces such as walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, and fabrics. To prevent mold and mildew from growing in your home, keep the humidity levels between 30% and 50%¹. You can use a dehumidifier or an air conditioner to lower the humidity in your home. You can also fix any leaks or water damage that may cause moisture problems².
5. Buy indoor plants to freshen the air
Indoor plants can not only beautify your home but also purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
Some plants can also remove harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from the air¹. Some examples of air-purifying plants are spider plants, snake plants, peace lilies, aloe vera, and English ivy³. However, if you have allergies or asthma, you may want to avoid indoor plants that can collect and foster the growth of mold⁴.
6. Cut down on pollutants
Another way to improve your indoor air quality is to avoid adding pollutants to your home in the first place. Some common sources of indoor pollution are radon gas, secondhand smoke, formaldehyde, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Radon gas is a natural radioactive gas that can seep into your home through cracks in the foundation and cause lung cancer². You can test for radon gas with a home kit and seal any cracks that may allow it to enter your home². Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled by smokers or emitted by burning tobacco products. It can cause cancer, asthma, and other health problems for anyone exposed to it². You can prevent secondhand smoke from entering your home by not smoking indoors or allowing anyone else to do so². Formaldehyde is a common VOC that is found in glues used in composite wood and many types of furniture. It can emit harmful gases into your indoor air that can cause respiratory issues². You can reduce formaldehyde exposure by choosing furniture made of solid wood or metal instead of composite wood². VOCs are also found in many household products such as paints, cleaners, solvents, pesticides, cosmetics, and air fresheners. They can evaporate into the air and cause headaches, nausea, irritation, and organ damage². You can reduce VOC exposure by choosing low-VOC or VOC-free products whenever possible and using them in well-ventilated areas².
7. Use an air purifier
An air purifier is a device that filters the air in your home and removes pollutants such as dust mites,
pet dander, pollen, mold spores, smoke, and VOCs.
An air purifier can help improve your indoor air quality by reducing the amount of allergens and irritants that you breathe in.
However, an air purifier is not a substitute for proper ventilation, cleaning, and source control.
You should still follow the other tips mentioned above to keep your indoor air clean and healthy.
When choosing an air purifier, look for one that has a HEPA filter, which can capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns⁵.
You should also consider the size, noise level, energy efficiency, and maintenance requirements of the air purifier before buying one.
Conclusion
Improving your indoor air quality can have many benefits for your health, comfort, and well-being.
By following these simple tips, you can reduce the exposure to common pollutants and allergens in your home and breathe easier all year round.
Source:
(1) 7 ways to improve indoor air quality and reduce air pollution in your home.. https://www.petro.com/resource-center/improve-indoor-air-quality.
(2) 8 Ways to Improve Your Air Quality at Home - Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-improve-air-quality-at-home.
(3) Easy ways you can improve indoor air quality - Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/easy-ways-you-can-improve-indoor-air-quality.
(4) How to improve air quality in your home: 9 easy steps to cleaner air. https://www.womanandhome.com/homes/12-things-that-improve-the-air-quality-in-your-home/.
(5) What can I do to improve indoor air quality in my home?. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-can-i-do-improve-indoor-air-quality-my-home.
Comentarios