The quality of air in your home is important, as it can impact you and your family’s health as well as how comfortable, and productive you are in your own home. Poor air quality can lead to respiratory problems, headaches, asthmatic conditions, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, sinus inflammation, lack of concentration, skin irritation, and much more. It can also be linked to serious conditions such as strokes, diabetes and cancer.
Not many people realize it, but your indoor air can be more polluted than the outdoor air, as moisture, gasses, odors, dust and a variety of other pollutants can quickly build up. The quality of air can also be impacted by your lifestyle choices, such as burning certain candles, wood-burning stoves, painting, cooking, cleaning products, renovation works, and more.
If the quality of air in your home is not good, it means you are constantly breathing in chemicals and pollutants while you relax, eat and sleep. It is important that your home has measures in place to ensure dirty air is able to leave your home, and fresh air is able to come in.
It is therefore vital that you take steps to improve the quality of air in your home.
Check your systems are working correctly
If you have heating and air conditioning (AC) units in your home, it is important that you get these repaired and serviced by a professional, to ensure they are working efficiently and properly. An AC unit alone can maintain and reduce humidity in the room, provide ventilation, cleans the air and maintains your desired temperature. AC units are complex systems, which need to be looked at by an AC repair company.
Being able to regulate the temperature in your home through AC units and heating systems, you are able to reduce and prevent condensation, and other issues that may build up. This will help significantly in improving the quality of air in your home. You can hire a professional air quality testing company to assess the air in your home, and then make appropriate recommendations. This will help significantly in improving the quality of air in your home.
Make sure there is sufficient ventilation
Sufficient ventilation is key to improving air quality. You can do this naturally, by keeping a window open all the time, or regularly opening doors. This will circulate the air, and allow poor air to leave, and fresh air to enter your home. Make sure you don’t block any sources of ventilation that you use. This is particularly important in winter, as humidity tends to be much higher and there is an increased risk of mold and dampness. You should also consider where you live, and what time you are letting in the fresh air. For example, if you live near a busy road, it is best to avoid opening windows during rush hour when there are going to be a lot of car fumes.
Use extractor fans
When you cook, you are producing smoke, grease and moisture. It is important that you use the kitchen hood and extractor fans while you are cooking to rid the air of the evaporated particles. You should also leave these running for a short period after cooking, as the particles will hang around in the air for a while. This will improve the quality of air, as well as reduce the risk of damaging your walls and cabinets. You should also use an extractor fan in the bathroom, as when you shower or use the bath, you need to release the steam that builds up.
Clean your home regularly
Regularly cleaning your home, including dusting and hoovering, can significantly reduce the dust and pollutants in your home. Reduce the dust in your home by polishing your home, not just the places you can visibly see, but also polishing the corners, little nooks, under the bed, and places you don’t regularly use. As you clean your home, keep an eye out for dampness and mold. High humidity levels provide a breeding ground for dust mites, feals, mold spores and much more. If you spot any signs, you want to get rid of them quickly and take preventative action, such as using damp protection paint.
Carpets and flooring easily harbor dust and allergens, so it is important that you don’t allow these to build up to a dangerous level. This is particularly important if you have pets, as they will likely bring in more dirt, and increase the level of pollution in your home due to dander and shedding hair.
Review your habits
Your habits and lifestyle are going to have an impact on how good the air quality is. Here are some of the top things you should avoid:
- Burning polluting candles
- Hanging wet washing indoors
- Not changing your bed sheets regularly
- Using toxic cleaning products
The quality of air in your home is vital for your health. Follow these tips to improve your environment and live a healthier, happier life.