There are multiple benefits to be had from good indoor air quality. The top advantage is it helps you breathe easy. You will be spared from allergens and pollutants that increase stress levels and hinder good health. You will sleep better too, given you are inhaling excellent air.
Meanwhile, if your house’s indoor air quality’s far from good, you will experience an array of health issues that compromise your quality of life. These include headaches, frequent colds, chronic cough, eye irritation, dizziness, respiratory problems, sore throats, skin rashes, lethargy, and memory lapses.
Yes, those are all a nuisance. Thankfully, you do not have to suffer any of them. You can always do something to improve your house’s indoor air quality. Here are some recommendations you may follow.
HVAC maintenance
Follow strict heating, ventilation, and air conditioning maintenance schedule. If you can’t do it yourself, call a heating company to do it for you. This is the first step to achieving excellent indoor air quality.
If you use a forced-air heating system, make sure to replace the filters on schedule. These filters should trap airborne irritants, dust, and other particles. But if used longer than their prescribed period of efficacy, these filters will recirculate those things you do not want in your indoor air. That defeats the purpose of having these filters.
Ducts must also be cleaned regularly. Otherwise, they, too, will become a breeding ground for indoor air pollutants.
Buy an air purifier
Consider being allergic to the shedding of cats and dogs. But there’s no way you will give up your beloved canine or feline companion. At the very least, place a reliable air purifier in your house so you do not sneeze throughout the day.
Go for ionic purifiers. They have the ability to capture airborne allergens. To buff up your defenses against allergens, you may use purifiers in tandem with an air dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will combat the growth of molds in damp areas such as the bathroom and basement.
Keep your plants outdoors
Yes, indoor plants will augment the oxygen supply inside your house. But that’s only practical for people not susceptible to allergies. Meanwhile, allergy-prone individuals might suffer from increased allergy attacks if there are plants inside the house. That’s because these plants can serve as generous hosts to mold.
But, if you insist on having plants inside the house, at least do the whole indoor gardening right. Consistently check your plants for mold buildup. Invest in high-quality soil. And water your potted plants only when the soil’s dry. Also, remember that all plant containers need bottom holes to release excess water.
Open doors and windows
Sometimes you get too caught up in the comforts of your own home that you forget how you need to let fresh air into the house by opening doors and windows for a certain period. This should be done even in colder months. You can use fans to drive out contaminated air.
Ample air circulation is crucial for every household. Static air harbors an accumulation of particles that are most likely bad for your health.
Keep your house clean
This one’s pretty basic. A clean house equates to a house with good air quality. Your cleaning process should zero in on the removal of dust, mold, and dander if you’re raising fluffy pets.
Follow a strict cleaning schedule. For example, rugs and carpets should be vacuumed at least once a week. Do it twice a week and you’re doing your entire family a huge favor. Or you can choose hard-surface flooring in lieu of carpets and rags.
Other things in the house that require constant cleaning or changing include beddings, curtains, and drapes. They attract allergens.
Lastly, get rid of clutter. The more unnecessary stuff you have lying around, the more dust accumulation you have to contend with.
We are currently living under a pandemic. The COVID-19 virus has claimed the lives of two million people worldwide. And while it was initially thought that the spread of the virus happens exclusively via close contact between a carrier and the new host, further studies revealed that enclosed spaces are also a culprit. That’s because a person infected with COVID, even if asymptomatic, will release viral particles that will remain airborne sans proper air circulation.
Now more than ever, we need to promote and subscribe to the best practices that achieve excellent indoor air quality. Otherwise, we might be endangering our lives and the lives of our loved ones.
Follow the recommendations mentioned above. They won’t take too much of your time and resources.
