If you’re like most Americans, you spend a decent amount of time at home. Your home is your happy place where you can be comfortable and at ease. It’s where you gather with loved ones. And you spend all your time at home breathing in the indoor air, so you probably want to ensure that the air quality is as good as possible.
Why Is Indoor Air Quality Important?
You spend a lot of time at home, breathing in the air. Unfortunately, research shows that some pollutants in the air in your home can be two to five times higher than average outdoor concentrations.
The US Environmental Protection Agency explains that poor air quality can lead to short-term and long-term health problems such as:
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
- Headaches and dizziness
- Fatigue
- Respiratory diseases
- Heart disease
- Cancer
8 Ways You Can Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality
So, you’re committed to improving your home’s indoor air quality. The good news is that there are many proactive steps you can take that will successfully clean and purify the air in your house.
Take some— or all— of the following actions, and the air in your home will be noticeably cleaner:
1. Change Your Filters
The HVAC systems in your home operate by pulling air out, cooling or warming it, and pushing it back in. As these systems pull in and process the air from your home, they catch dust and debris from the air. Filters in these systems capture these particles and prevent them from going back into the air.
However, if your air filter isn’t replaced, it can become clogged and full and cannot continue cleaning the air that passes through the HVAC system. This is precisely why experts recommend that you clean or replace the air filters on your air conditioners and furnaces annually.
You should also clean other filters, such as the filter on your vacuum and dryer.
2. Check Your Air Ducts
Air ducts climatize your home by distributing hot and cold air where needed. When these ducts are broken, dirty, or installed incorrectly, they can spread dust and debris everywhere. Have your air ducts inspected and maintained by a professional regularly.
3. Let Your Cooking Vents Do Their Job
Your cooking vents are there for a reason. When you cook with a gas stove, dangerous pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are released. Electric burners also release these contaminants in smaller levels. These are not healthy to breathe in and can cause harmful side effects.
Always turn on your vents when cooking to keep your air clean and open a window slightly. The pollutants will circulate and make their way out of the house while fresh air comes in.
4. Deep Clean Carpets and Rugs
Over time, your carpets and rugs start to collect dust and debris. Every time you walk over them, you kick these particles into the air and breathe them in.
While regular vacuuming can help a bit, your carpets and rugs need a deep cleaning at least once a year to get them truly clean.
5. Watch the Humidity Inside
Homes that have high humidity are a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Molds release tiny spores into the air to reproduce, which means you could be breathing in those spores. Breathing in excessive amounts of mold spores can cause watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, and fatigue. Long-term exposure can come with serious health risks.
Test the humidity in your home and adjust as needed to keep it at an ideal level. You should aim to keep your house’s humidity levels between 40 to 60%. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help to adjust your levels to an optimal level and reduce the risk of mold spores in the air.
6. Buy Indoor Plants
Indoor plants can keep the air in your home fresh by absorbing CO2 and releasing fresh oxygen. However, not all plants are very effective in this way. Some of the best plants for cleaning your home’s air are dracaena, spathiphyllum (peace lily), and hedera helix (common ivy).
7. Cut Down on Pollutants
You might not realize this, but you could be bringing in things that are reducing your home’s air quality. Some of the ways you can reduce or eliminate the common pollutants that might be in your home are:
- Second-hand Smoke: Ask anyone who smokes to do it outdoors. If you live with a smoker, have them change and wash their clothes regularly.
- Formaldehyde: Furniture made with composite wood can contain high levels of formaldehyde (found in the glue) and slowly seep out of the structure. You can avoid this by purchasing furniture made with solid wood. You can also buy second-hand furniture, as the formaldehyde can eventually dissipate with enough time.
- Cleaning Products: Many household cleaning products have chemicals that release harmful toxins into the air. Consider switching to eco-friendly products made with natural ingredients.
- Scented Candles: Scented, artificial candles can release chemicals into the air, such as heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. Switch to candles made entirely of beeswax or soy.
8. Test Your Air Quality
You can never really be sure about the air quality in your home unless you test it. There are plenty of DIY air quality monitors that you can purchase that will detect carbon monoxide, mold, radon, and more.
Alternatively, you can leave it up to the professionals. An HVAC technician can not only test the indoor air quality in your home but also identify the issues and provide recommendations on how to treat them.
The Air In Your Home Should Be a Priority
You likely came across this post because you’re worried about your home’s indoor air quality. Don’t ignore those instincts. Breathing in unclean air is unhealthy and dangerous for everyone who lives inside your house.
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