10 Effective Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality for a Healthier Home In Tiburon

Indoor air pollution is a significant concern, with levels of pollutants often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor air concentrations, affecting indoor air quality and health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides guidance on indoor air quality solutions. The winter months can create even more exposure to respiratory problems in the outdoor air. Understanding the sources of indoor pollution is crucial for creating a healthy indoor environment and improving air quality. Luckily, indoor air quality problems can be addressed through a combination of strategies, including improving ventilation, using air cleaners, and reducing contamination from indoor sources.

Common Causes of High Levels of Indoor Air Pollution

Particulate Matter: These are miniscule particles in the air, like dust, pollen, pet hair, mold spores, etc. Because of how small they are, they can easily get into your lungs and even the bloodstream. Exposure can cause things like asthma and lung or cardiovascular disease.

Allergens: Indoor allergens are some of the most common air polluters, created from pet dander, mice and cockroach droppings, and dust, as well as mold and mildew.

Residential Combustion: Most homes burn fuel for their appliances, with things like cook stoves releasing gas emissions straight into the house to be inhaled.

Ways to Improve Air Quality

1) Regular Cleaning

Keeping your home clean is an easy way to reduce the accumulation of dust, animal dander, and other pollutants that can settle in your house, on your walls, furniture, windows, and other surfaces. Hard-surface flooring can greatly reduce allergens building up, and vacuuming carpets and rugs weekly can prevent the buildup of dust mites and pollutants. Dusting surfaces with a microfiber cloth and regularly washing bedding, box springs, and drapes is important in promoting clean air. Using natural and non-toxic cleaning products can help reduce pollution.

2) Keep Plants Outside

Though indoor plants can look appealing, it is best to keep all greenery outdoors if allergens and respiratory problems are an issue in your house. Though there are certain plants that are said to improve your air quality because they release more oxygen into the air, they can still cause problems for allergy-prone people.

3) Change Filters to Keep Air Cleaner

If your home is heated by a forced-air heating system, make sure you are regularly changing the filter before it can become clogged with debris. Since these filters catch all of the air contaminants to stop them from circulating through your system, they can become clogged quickly, and when they do, those contaminants will start getting into your indoor air.

4) Duct Cleaning

Having your ducts cleaned every now and then is another good way to prevent debris and pollutants from building up and spreading through your air. When ducts get dirty, they also become a breeding ground for bacteria such as mold and mildew, which will also spread through your air and possibly cause breathing and health problems.

5) Consider an Air Purifier for Positive Health Effects

For people with asthma or allergy triggers who also have pets, this could be a good option. These devices can capture airborne contaminants in your home. Dehumidifiers are also helpful in areas of the house that are more damp and susceptible to mold growth.

6) Let in Fresh Air

Make sure to routinely open windows in your house to let in some natural air circulation. This is good to do even in the colder months of winter, but make sure you are not in an area of high allergens in the outdoor air. Avoid exposure to chemical air fresheners and sprays in the rooms of your house.

7) Use Fans and Ventilation

Use fans in order to remove harmful contaminants from the air, like when you are using a cooking stove. Leaving the bathroom door open or using a fan when you are taking a shower can help humidity and prevent mold growth in damp areas on the bathroom walls.

8) Avoid Burning When You Can to Reduce Difficulty Breathing

Try not to use fireplaces, gas appliances, and candles if possible. These release fumes into the air that can be harmful to your lungs and create pollutants that settle in your house.

9) Monitor Your Indoor Air

Air quality monitoring is essential for understanding indoor pollution levels and identifying areas for improvement. There are air quality monitors that can measure pollutants such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in the air. Tools such as hygrometers can measure the humidity levels in your home and help you to know if you need to raise or lower the levels. Also, always be sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working by testing them and changing out the batteries once a year.

10) Call Professional Heating/Air Conditioning and IAQ Services

The best thing to do to ensure healthy indoor air is to get a professional inspection from certified air quality experts. John Owens Services can not only analyze your indoor air but also provide various treatments to improve it, whether it is humidity problems, stale odors, or dirty ducts.

Professional maintenance services for your heating and air conditioning systems can also be incredibly helpful in improving your indoor air quality, making sure the systems aren’t circulating polluted air. We can even install air scrubbers along with AC systems to help remove contaminants in the air or suggest the best upgrades to improve energy efficiency.

Overcoming Challenges in Improving Air Quality

Improving indoor air quality can be challenging, especially in areas with high levels of limited ventilation. Using air cleaners and improving ventilation by opening windows and doors can be effective strategies for improving indoor air quality and health, as well as keeping your home clean and free from as many harmful toxins as you can, like gas stove fumes and chemicals from cleaning supplies. Creating a healthy indoor environment requires ongoing effort and commitment but can have numerous health benefits and improve overall well-being.