HOLMES: How to deal with poor indoor air quality

content of the article

A few weeks ago I was talking about how much I love ERVs because they help maintain healthy indoor air quality, but there are other things homeowners can do to improve the air quality in their homes. Experts estimate that we spend around 90 percent of our time indoors, either at home or at work. A recent indoor air quality study showed that 62 percent of homeowners believe a healthy indoor air environment is important. However, only 12 percent of homeowners considered their air quality to be poor. After being educated on the potential health risks of poor indoor quality, that percentage rose to 39 percent. Therefore, it is important to know the risks and how to improve indoor air quality.

content of the article

To deal with poor indoor air quality, you need to address source control, improved ventilation, and air purifiers.

But what does bad indoor air mean? There can be many sources of indoor air pollution in your home, and most of them are due to toxins or allergens. Creating good air starts with identifying the potential sources that contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Building materials and furnishings can be a source of toxins such as B. Damaged insulation containing asbestos, newly installed materials such as floors, upholstery or carpets or cupboards or furniture made of certain compressed wood products. When renovating, building or buying a new home, choose materials with low VOCs, or better yet, no VOCs.

content of the article

Toxins and allergens can also be found in household cleaning and maintenance products, central heating systems, cooling systems and humidifiers, and fuel-burning appliances. They are also found in tobacco products, radon, pesticides and all other pollutants.

Poor indoor air can have a significant impact on our health. Common symptoms can include headache, fatigue, coughing, sneezing, sinus congestion, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, skin irritation, and the list goes on. If you have allergies or asthma, these are often made worse when poor indoor air quality comes into play.

The first thing I recommend homeowners do is get their indoor air tested. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should get an air quality test right away. However, I would also encourage homeowners to have an IAQ test done when considering buying or selling a home. IAQ tests can be booked through a home inspector. There are home devices on the market too, but I don’t trust the accuracy of the DIY air quality tests that much.

content of the article

An IAQ test includes testing for radon and mold. Asbestos requires a separate test performed by a specialized certified technician. Once you have completed a full panel of tests, the surveys should be conducted every five years.

Again, I sound like a broken record, but changing or cleaning your filters regularly (every three or four months) makes a world of difference. That goes for your HVAC, ERV or HRV, humidifier, exhaust fan – any system that moves or extracts air needs regular maintenance.

Make sure you clean your home from dust mites. It may sound creepy, but they’re in your sheets, curtains, and pillows. Clean these items regularly, especially if you have allergies.

Clean your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and remember to use them regularly as they are crucial in removing excess moisture from your indoor air. As we know, excessive moisture can lead to mold growth. Adequate ventilation ensures good indoor air quality. Improving your ventilation can reduce the number of pollutants in indoor air, prevent moisture build-up in indoor air and remove stale indoor air.

content of the article

There have been significant advances in air purification systems, and I was recently introduced to a compact, ceiling-mounted model that keeps indoor air clean and fresh. It purifies contaminated air by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, viruses, allergens and mold, resulting in a healthier living environment.

A simpler solution would be to buy more houseplants. We should all be aware of the immense power of plants. After all, they are what make the oxygen we breathe. Plants in your home can help improve air quality. Plants, such as snake or spider plants, can absorb pollutants.

The air we breathe will always be vital to our health and well-being, and good indoor air quality in our homes is especially important as most of us spend a lot of time indoors. Good indoor air improves our quality of life and reduces the risk of respiratory infections and various chronic diseases. It therefore makes sense to take the right and necessary measures to improve indoor air quality.