Indoor air pollution is responsible for a wide range of health problems that you’d probably expect:
- Respiratory infections
- Asthma
- Even lung cancer
But you might not realize that poor air quality can also lead to daily issues like trouble sleeping, headaches, and fatigue. If you have gotten used to living with any of the conditions above, you need to pay close attention to the tips below. You could improve your health and general wellbeing without doctor’s visits or medication.
Just with cleaner indoor air!
Not only is poor air quality bad for your body, but it can be bad for your home as well. A home with poor air quality is harder to keep clean, and you will probably end up dealing with mold and mold stains as a result.
Listed below are 10 of the easiest ways to improve indoor air quality in your home (or office!).
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality?
With all the known risks of poor indoor air quality, most people are willing to accept any and all suggestions to help monitor and improve the air quality in their homes. Some are very simple actions, while others may require the help of a trained professional.
Here’s a list of 10 things you can do pretty easily to improve air quality
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers are devices that remove pollutants and contaminants from the air. They can be used to reduce airborne allergens, dust, mold spores, and other pollutants.
You can install an air purifier or by a portable one that can be moved from room to room depending on your home’s needs.
Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
These devices can help regulate the humidity levels in your home, which can prevent the growth of mold and other harmful microorganisms.
Too much humidity is one of the main causes of mold in American households. To achieve good air quality, you need some humidity, but not too much. Test your home’s humidity and learn what optimal ranges are before purchasing either or both of these devices.
HVAC Filters
High-efficiency HVAC filters can capture airborne particles, including mold spores, pollen, and other allergens, improving the air quality in your home.
High-efficiency and HEPA filters are not the same thing. Many residential HVAC systems are not strong enough to pull air through a HEPA filter, so make sure you’re getting the best filter that your system can handle.
Houseplants
Not only are they nice to look at, but certain house plants can help improve indoor air quality by absorbing pollutants and emitting oxygen. Actually, all plants exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen, but some of the most efficient include spider plants, peace lilies, and English ivy.
Air Quality Monitors
Air quality monitors can help you track the levels of pollutants in your home and alert you when they reach dangerous levels.
An air quality monitor can be installed anywhere in your home, but it makes the most sense to install them in rooms where your family spends the most time, like the living room and bedrooms.
Ventilation Systems
Proper ventilation can help improve indoor air quality by circulating fresh air and removing stale or contaminated air. If your home doesn’t have exhaust fans or an attic fan, we highly recommend having them installed.
Natural Cleaning Products
Traditional cleaning products can contain harmful chemicals that can pollute indoor air. These chemicals can be just as harmful to your lungs, eyes and skin as pollutants like mold.
Switching to natural cleaning products can improve air quality while keeping your home clean. There are many natural cleaning products available commercially, or you can make your own with common household products.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that can be deadly when inhaled in high concentrations. It is odorless and colorless, which makes it impossible to detect without these monitors.
Carbon monoxide detectors can alert you to the presence of this gas in your home before it becomes toxic.
Radon Testing Kits
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can seep into homes and cause health problems. It comes up from the ground and enters homes through the floors, walls, basement, and even the water.
Testing for radon and installing mitigation systems can improve indoor air quality.
UV-C Light Air Purifiers
These devices use UV-C light to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in the air. They can help improve air quality by reducing the number of harmful particles in your home. You can install UV-C light air purifiers yourself or trust a professional to do it for you.
One More Tip for Maintaining Good Air Quality …
If we could only recommend one thing for maintaining good air quality in your home, it would be annual professional mold/air quality test from Pure Maintenance of St. Louis. If you know what you’re up against, it makes the job of reducing those pollutants a lot easier.
Regular air quality testing is proven to improve health, alleviate mental fog, and improves sleep.
Other benefits include the following:
- Eliminates home odors
- Increases efficiency of HVAC system
- Reduces time and effort needed to clean your home
What about DIY Air Quality Tests?
You can use DIY air quality tests, but let us caution you: there’s a reason we recommend professional testing.
Home testing kits are not generally as accurate as professional testing. They also don’t indicate the particular substance that is responsible for your compromised air quality condition — which means you’ll just be taking a shot in the dark when trying to improve your home’s air quality.
Pro testing will include a breakdown of the pollutants affecting your home’s air quality. Not only will PMSTL be able to detect individual pollutants, but we’ll also be able to advise you about the best way to address them specifically. This is a major advantage when compared to DIY testing.
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