Want to find out the importance of good indoor air quality? Know the tips to improve the air quality and take the necessary steps to make it better.
Most of the things that create problems for us are odorless. In our everyday lives, we may face some undeniable problems. But what if your own house becomes a significant threat for your family members only because of indoor air quality? In some cases, you will not find out the problem until you start having the symptoms from it.
Many people overlook this issue, and it has caused them many long-term side effects as a result. Air is essential for all of us, and we have to cleanse its pollutants to stay healthy at home. To do that, we need to take the necessary steps to breathe the best indoor air. Air quality testing is vital for knowing if there are any pollutants in the air.
The Importance of Good Indoor Air Quality
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that indoor air has 2 to 5 times more pollutants than outdoor air. In some scenarios, the indoor environment has 100 times more harmful pollutants than the outdoors. Ordinary people spend 90 percent of their whole life indoors. Better indoor air allows the environment to be ideal for everyone. If the indoor air is fresh in the workplace, the employees will be able to do their work with a clear head and complete their tasks quicker.
On the other hand, bad air quality will result in various health issues for employees, such as eye irritation, coughs, and headaches in a short period. The issue gets more dangerous if these symptoms of indoor air pollutants become long term. Reducing the total exposure to polluted indoor air can give some good results, but it is not the whole solution. If this indoor air quality is not improved quickly, it will hamper the productivity of those employees. It is estimated that this decrease in productivity makes the whole world lose billions of dollars, so improving indoor air quality is critical for all households and organizations.
What is Considered to be Poor Air Quality?
Many homeowners do not take their home’s pollutants seriously, which worsens their home’s indoor air quality. However, these pollutants are entirely undetectable with the senses of the human body. So it is not wholly the homeowners’ fault that they ignore bad indoor air. These harmful pollutants can come from many sources such as furniture, paints, lousy insulation, lead, etc. The outcome of poor air quality is not left unknown. It will lead to many long-term health problems.
Some say poor indoor air quality is even more harmful than air pollution. Because indoors, the air is not flowing as freely as the outdoor air. The air quality index (AQI) displays that most of the air pollutants found indoor are the most dangerous pollutants. The index range of average air pollutants is around 0 to 500. If any contaminant is above the range of 300, it shows that it is harmful to air quality. The EPA’s indoor air quality standard is that the content of 100 or over 100 is unhealthy.
Improving air quality
Improving the air quality will relieve you from asthma, allergy symptoms, and flare-ups. Also, you will be able to exhale and inhale fresh air indoors. It will not clear the indoor air completely from all the allergens in your home, but it will decrease their amount. Some of the best ideas for improving air quality indoor are given below.
Keep it clean
A clean house is a healthier house to stay in. Good hygiene can prevent dust and animal dander from entering your home. Prioritize cleaning and have your focus on decreasing the accumulation of mold, dust, and pet dander. Perform the following tasks regularly.
- Equip your vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and vacuum the rugged areas and carpets twice each week. Floor carpets can cause allergens in your home, so choosing a hard-surface floor over carpeting is a better option.
- Cleanse your drapes, bed sheets, and any other items that may act like a magnet for allergens. Use dust-proof covers for your pillows and the same for the mattress. Consider washing them in the water at 130°F to get rid of the embedded allergens.
- Clear dust as soon as possible, or it will create reactions for sensitive persons.
Keep the greenery outdoors
Some indoor plants tend to attract and boost the growth of mold. If your family members have a tough time dealing with allergies, then consider avoiding those plants indoors.
Also, some people think plants improve indoor air quality. However, these plants can also become dangerous for sensitive people with allergies.
Change your filters
Be sure to swap the filters of your heating system regularly. Most heating systems have electrostatic filters; these are used to trap the floating dust. But if these filters are not cleaned or changed, they will release the dust instead of trapping them.
There can be trapped dust in the heating system’s tubes. Make sure to clean all the inside parts.
Invest in an air purifier
If your pet is causing all of those allergens, think about getting an air purifier for your home. Place the air purifier in the most used area of your home. These will prevent any irritant allergens from causing allergy to your family members. Although the air purifier will not wipe all of those allergens, it will reduce them significantly.
Also, a dehumidifier in the humid areas of your house can stop the growth of mold. Some good examples of moist areas are the basement and bathrooms; they are the primary sources of mold indoors. Keep your washrooms and toilets ventilated properly and clear any visible mold.
Let the fresh air in
Open up your windows to let the outdoor air come indoors, even in the cold weather. That will provide fresh air to your house. Also, eject any cooking fumes with fans in the kitchen and remove as many air contaminants as possible.
All these steps will give you a good indoor air quality than what you would typically have. Consider following all steps for the best results for indoor air.