Most people today spend most of their time indoors. As you live, work, and sleep indoors, you hope you are breathing clean air. But this isn't necessarily the case. Common air pollutants like excess moisture, dust particles, pesticides, bacteria all impact the air we breathe.
Air purity is critical for your overall wellbeing. You can't control the quality of the air everywhere you go, but you can make a difference in your own home.
It takes more than lighting a candle or spraying some air freshener to improve the air you breathe.
Check out 10 things you can do to improve the air quality of your home.
1. No Smoking
Never smoke in your own home, and don't let anyone else smoke either. Smoking is a pollutant you can control.
It's one of the worst things you can do for your home's air quality. It pollutes indoor air by emitting harmful toxins that cling to your walls, fabrics, and furnishings.
The effects of smoking on air quality stick around much longer than it takes to finish a cigarette. Smoking or inhaling second-hand smoke is a dangerous pollutant and health hazard everyone should avoid.
2. Try Safer Cleaning Products
Most standard household cleaning products are full of toxins. You only need to read the label or the poison warning on the label to figure this out.
The toxins in these products affect the air quality of your home. Breathing in fumes from these harsh household cleaning products is irritating to the nose, eyes, and throat.
Choosing less toxic or natural products will get the job done without the unnecessary risk to you or the environment.
3. Change Your Air Filters
To keep the air fresh in your home, you must stop dust and harmful pollutants from circulating around your home. You can accomplish this by using the AirSafe filter and changing it on a regular basis.
Checking and changing clogged air filters help improve the quality of air in your home. Other tips for keeping dust down include removing your shoes when you enter your home, dusting the furniture, and vacuuming carpeted areas.
4. Check Your HVAC System
Depending on the weather where you live, you may run your air conditioner or heater most of the time. Although an open window helps ventilate your home, weather or safety concerns may prevent this from happening very often.
That's why it's so important to have a safe, efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. Be sure to have an expert check and service your HVAC system for cleanliness and efficiency on a regular basis.
In Florida, you must have a licensed AC contractor to clean and service your HVAC system. Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau AND make sure they're NADCA certified.
5. Remove Mold and Mildew
If you live in a humid area, you'll notice mold and mildew in and around your home from time to time. Dampness is the enemy of your home, but you can do something about it.
As you notice spots of mold or mildew, attack them right away to keep these pollutants out of your home and your airway. If you notice any water leaks, address them to avoid problems down the road.
6. Use Exhaust Fans
You want to make sure any exhaust fans from your bathrooms, stove, and other areas are working and venting to the outside. If they aren't functioning, they will circulate smelly, smoky, or humid air throughout your home.
If your exhaust fans work well, they eliminate odors and moisture from building up in your home. A good exhaust fan forces old air out while pulling fresh air in.
7. Test for Radon
Although radon is not common in Florida, you still may want to check to be sure. Radon is a naturally occurring gas found in soil. In small quantities, radon is harmless, but in large quantities, it is deadly.
It has no scent or color. The only way to test for radon in your home is to hire a professional or buy a detection kit to check for it.
Don't take the chance. If you've never checked for radon, put it on your to-do list right away.
8. Add Some Houseplants
Our world is full of man-made pollutants. Just as trees and greenery clean the air outside, houseplants can improve the air inside your home.
Houseplants help remove and absorb toxins from the air and replace them with oxygen. All houseplants are helpful for a healthier household, but some plants are better than others.
The chrysanthemum, rubber tree, and butterfly palm are good choices for their pollution busting capabilities.
9. Open Your Windows
With the air conditioning or heat running, you may forget to open your windows for some natural ventilation. But opening them for a few minutes a day can let in some fresh air and improve the quality of air in your home.
Opening windows on opposite sides of your home allows for cross ventilation and allows fresh air to flow throughout your home. Be sure to clean your window screens to cut down pollen and other allergens blowing in.
10. Invest in an Air Purifier
A quality HEPA air purifier helps filter impurities from your home. There are air purifiers for every budget, but you do get what you pay for. They can make a real difference in air quality.
A faulty or cheap air purifier can make air quality worse, so be sure you do your homework before making a purchase. A good air purification system helps filter out odors and pollutants.
They can be helpful for family members who have allergies, asthma, and/or breathing related issues.
Invest in Air Quality
Nothing is more important than the quality of air you breathe. Poor air quality is linked to a host of health problems, including asthma, head aches, eye irritation, respiratory issues and the common cold.
Your health depends on breathing fresh, clean air.
Although you can't change the quality of the air outside your home, there's much you can do to improve the air quality within your home.
If you are in or around the Gulf Breeze/Pensacola area, contact us to discuss the home comfort solutions we have to offer.
This article was written by:
Co-founder and Home Comfort Specialist