02/24/2022
Let's talk about Indoor air quality.
Indoor Air Quality is strongly connected to health and wellbeing. Humans tend to spend a large amount of time indoors. Breathable air that’s free of health threatening pollutants can lead to a higher quality of life, lower risk of respiratory illnesses, and a reduced risk of various chronic conditions.
Higher air quality is believed to help prevent the onset of some diseases, including asthma. Removal of health threatening pollutants can result in improved public health and environmental benefits.
Poor IAQ is associated with the following health problems:
· Respiratory Illnesses
· Throat and Nasal Illnesses, Scratchy Throat
· Complications for Lung and Heart Conditions
· Coughing
· Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
· Headaches
· Moderate to Severe Allergic Reactions
· Asthma Complications
· Cancer
· Fatigue
· Skin illnesses
This list is not extensive and may not show the entire picture of potential health risks from poor air quality. Short-term exposure to poor air quality can result in illness and disease, while long-term exposure can lead to serious complications. Any exposure at all can be dangerous and may exasperate pre-existing conditions or create new health issues.
How can we keep our air clean?
HVAC maintenance that includes a thorough inspection of your heating and cooling system. The technician will check your unit for leaks, dirty and grimy coils, malfunctioning or broken components, and other issues. These problems can affect your system’s ability to cool your home and maintain proper humidity levels, resulting in harmful biological growth. Proper servicing and repair can reduce the presence of harmful particles and allergens in your indoor air.
Upgrade your old Attic insulation (each insulation type has a different lifetime)
Everyone knows that good insulation can prevent many undesirable things including heat or cold from infiltrating your home, but how many people think about the unwanted health risks that old insulation brings to your home? Depending on the type of insulation you have at home, your health may be affected already, and your insulation may be too old to be effective.
Your home is full of cables, wires, and pipes of all kinds that support the smooth functioning of various utilities and devices. Ducts are one of the most important elements of air circulation but are often ignored or hardly ever noticed in every household. They ensure that air flows through your HVAC system to your home and works to ensure allergens and other unwanted residues are removed from the air. At the same time, ducts and insulation systems that are not properly maintained can and will cause problems. They are inefficient, increase your electricity bill, and generally make your indoor areas an uncomfortable place. Even worse, aging insulation can actually harm your health.
Use your ventilations.
Many indoor air pollutants come from the kitchen. Gas stoves release harmful contaminants, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Even electric burners produce those same pollutants in lower levels, as well as other particles that can be easily absorbed into your bloodstream. So, when you’re cooking, be sure to turn on your kitchen vents, or open a window to help filter out the air even more.
Control humidity in your home.
Humid and moist conditions breed mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory issues like allergies and asthma. Depending on your location, the hot summer months can bring about especially humid conditions. Reduce the amount of moisture in the air and curb the growth of irritating molds with a few well-placed dehumidifiers. There are a variety of humidifier options that will help maintain consistent humidity levels and create comfortable living conditions in your home.
Buy indoor plants to freshen the air.
Plants are nature’s natural air filters. Buying a few indoor plants can do wonders to improve the indoor air quality in your home, while enhancing your home décor. Small plants like ferns and lilies (which bloom indoors) and larger palm trees are the best options to pull contaminants out of the air.
