Indoor air quality is critical to a healthy living space, but it’s something that’s rarely thought of when you ask homeowners what makes a healthy environment. Poor air quality can lead to a variety of health conditions or issues, like exacerbated allergies, aggravated asthma, and other respiratory problems. We’re going to take a look at how to improve air quality, as well as the best way to improve air quality in your home. In the end, you’ll have gained a much deeper understanding of what it takes to make an environment healthier for yourself and your family.
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
Before we get into how indoor air quality can be improved, it’s important to understand exactly what it is. Indoor air quality is the measure of the overall quality of the air in your home, what contaminants are present, and in what amounts. Some of the most common pollutants found in the home include:
- Dust
- Dust Mites
- Mold Spores
- Pollen
- Pet Dander
- Tobacco Smoke
- Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, from various sources including cleaning products and common building materials
Being able to identify and address the sources of the pollutants is the first, and most important, step toward improving your home’s indoor air quality.
Cleaning Your Home to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Ensuring your home is clean is a cornerstone for achieving and maintaining good indoor air quality. Here are some of the most functional tips to help keep your home clean.
- Regularly clean with a damp cloth to remove dust
- Vacuum as often as possible, using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to effectively remove dust mites, dander, and other contaminants
- Have your ductwork professionally cleaned at least once per year to remove built-up dust and dirt
Air Purification
Air purification is a great way to remove common allergens and pollutants from the air. Air purifiers that can use HEPA filters can capture up to 99.7%, or more, of all common particles down to just 0.3 microns. This includes mites, pollen, mold, and danger.
Humidity Control
Another component of improving indoor air quality is making sure that you’re keeping your home dry. This means aiming for a relative humidity of between 30% and 50%. You can also use a humidifier or dehumidifier to help you maintain l
The Best Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality: Ventilation
The best way that you can improve indoor air quality is to improve ventilation. Introducing fresh air from external sources and removing stale indoor air can contribute significantly to the reduction of pollutants in the home. Here are some simple tips to improve ventilation:
- Open windows and doors when possible, to allow fresh air to circulate throughout your home.
- Be sure to use the exhaust fans included with kitchen and bath equipment to remove moisture, cooking fumes, and other airborne pollutants from your home.
- Install an air exchange system. Air exchange equipment can help maintain indoor air quality by continuously exchanging stale indoor air with fresher outdoor air.
The only caveat about fresh air is that if it’s unfiltered, it will contain elements of mold, pollen, and more. If you’re sensitive to those, keep that in mind, and plan for additional filtration.
Using Professional Services Like Home Biotesting
There are many things that you can do to personally improve the indoor air quality at your home, but one of the most effective is to partner with a professional for leading service. Be sure that the professional you choose can create a comprehensive assessment of your home and create tailored solutions that fit you and your needs. Reach out to Home Biotesting today to get started.