Better Indoor Air Quality = A Happier Home
According to the American Lung Association, poor indoor air quality has been linked to aggravating a variety of health symptoms ranging from dry eyes, sinus congestion, fatigue and nausea to chronic infections and asthma.Fortunately, there are a variety of ways you can improve your indoor air quality and give your family cleaner indoor air to breathe.
- Try to keep your home smoke-free. Obviously, this means you shouldn't allow tobacco smoking in your home, but that also applies to other sources of smoke, like candles, incense and even barbeque grills if their smoke is drawn into the house. If you must use a fireplace or wood burning stove, make sure it is properly ventilated and clean.
- Discourage the growth of mold, mildew and dust mites by keeping indoor humidity low. A professionally installed whole-house dehumidifier can make a big difference. Bonus: You may find your home is more comfortable with less humidity, too!
- Clean floors and other surfaces regularly so dust, allergens and other pollutants won't have a chance to become airborne again. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter for the best results and avoid using cleaners with VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) when possible.
- Groom and bathe pets regularly to minimize pet dander your home.
- Use a HEPA filter on your HVAC system and clean or replace it per manufacturer's recommendations. You should also have your HVAC equipment and air ducts cleaned, sanitized and inspected regularly. Clogged filters and grungy air ducts hurt not only your indoor air quality, but also the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.
- A fast way to dramatically improve your indoor air quality is to install a whole-house air cleaner and/or UV light air cleaner. These devices work in the ducts of your home to filter your air and kill bacteria, fungi, viruses and other harmful microorganisms.
