Maintaining Air Quality Inside Your Home
Whether relaxing, remodeling, or spring cleaning in the home, we want to breathe easy knowing the indoor air quality is as clean as can be. It’s estimated that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, making indoor air quality as crucial as ever. Air pollutants can adversely affect anyone, but children, older adults, and people with preexisting health conditions are more vulnerable to the negative health effects of air pollution. Here, we’ve provided a few tips on monitoring air quality in your home so you can keep your family healthy and safe.
Looks for signs of unhealthy indoor air.
Indoor air quality is influenced by factors both inside and outside of the home, including climate conditions, building materials, and daily human activity. There are some giveaways for poor air quality indoors: visible signs of mold or mildew, high humidity, poor ventilation (especially in cooking areas), dust and pet dander, and sources giving off odors or particles. To promote healthy air in the home, first remove or reduce the source causing pollution, look for ways to improve ventilation, and then employ filtration systems to purify the air.
Inspect building construction and furnishings.
Building construction materials and furnishings can be sources of harmful air pollutants like asbestos and lead, especially in older buildings. These materials are more likely to contribute to low air quality if they are damaged or deteriorating. New building materials, including pressed-wood products, paint, and carpeting, can also emit harmful compounds like formaldehyde. If you suspect your home has contamination from one of these products, be sure to connect with a trained professional to test and treat the materials.
Regularly service combustion appliances.
In the U.S., two-thirds of households burn fuel, such as natural gas, wood, or propane. These appliances heat homes and water, dry clothes, and cook food, but they can also emit harmful emissions. One step to protect your family against pollutants from fuel burning is to make sure the home is well-ventilated and appliances are regularly serviced and in proper working order.
Keep surfaces dust-free.
Dusting is an easy way to reduce contaminants in your home. Animal dander, dust mite matter, and pollen are often invisible in the home, but they can still negatively affect air quality, triggering people with allergies and asthma. Be sure to regularly wash fibrous surfaces that can trap dust, including bed sheets, upholstery, rugs, and carpets.
Meet the Author
Tory Irmeger, BA, English
Tory Irmeger graduated from Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing. While at Lee, Tory served as head of copy for the school’s biannual publication Vindagua. Since joining CMC Publications as editor, Tory has led ideation, conceptualization, and development of numerous health, wellness, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope, CityScope, and Choose Chattanooga magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia.
