Improving Air Quality in Your Home
Good air quality in the home provides the environment all of us need to live comfortably and stay healthy. Why is good air quality important? If you suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma or allergies, you know how important it is to reduce the odds of a flare-up or full-blown respiratory attack. Here are some things to know about improving the air quality in your home.
Poor Air Quality Triggers
In addition to the after-effects of sewer or water damage, there are many every day biological contaminants that reduce indoor air quality and can trigger an asthma or other respiratory attacks.- Mold and mildew due to excessive moisture in and around the home
- Bacteria and contaminants from water damage or sewer backups
- Dried rodent droppings (which become airborne)
- Contaminated insulation, carpeting
Three Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Eliminate Sources of Poor Air Quality
Getting rid of the source of indoor pollutants can help improve indoor air quality. Indoor pollutant sources include, but are not limited to:- Building materials (flooring, carpeting, furniture, remodeling materials)
- Black mold and other types of fungus
- High humidity levels (above desired humidity level of between 30-50 percent)
- Inadequate ventilation
Improve Ventilation
A simple solution to improving indoor air quality is to let more outdoor air inside. Even the most energy efficient HVAC system can’t bring fresh air indoors. Here are ways to bring fresh air inside:- Open doors and windows.
- Running fans or an open vent window air conditioning unit.
- Exhaust fans to not only eliminate contaminants from a bathroom or kitchen but increase the outdoor ventilation rate if vented to the exterior.