Indoor air quality is an increasing quality of life concern for the modern person. Did you know that the average person spends 90 percent of their time indoors? How about the fact that all of this time indoors could be the reason why so many people suffer from allergies and other sicknesses?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor pollution is five times worse than that of outdoor air quality. Even worse, this air pollution contributes to many health problems many people experience. That’s right, while you’re assuming that your snot-nosed coworker who refused to wash his hands or that dirty subway pole is the reason you’re sick, the truth is the real culprit might be right under your nose.
Testing Indoor Air quality: When to test Your Indoor Environment
Some of the signs you may need to test your indoor air quality are regularly occurring health symptoms associated with several modern health Air Quality sicknesses. These symptoms include dizziness, headaches, flu-like systems, sinus issues, lethargy, eye irritation, skin rashes and allergies, and feeling bad overall in general.
What Impacts Air Cleanliness?
Indoor air quality can be negatively impacted by several environmental issues within the home. If you have pets, animal dander they leave can add to pollution, as can poorly maintained HVAC and ventilation systems, dirt and dust mites, pollen, smoking and the like. This also includes the use of synthetic construction materials that release compounds toxic to the human body in the air, and household cleaners.
Treating Indoor Air quality
You can safely manage poor quality of air and related concerns through removing pollutants in your home. Improve your ventilation by opening windows when you can, turning on the fans in your home to circulate air and investing in a home air purifier. Make sure to keep ventilation running in areas that are constantly wet, such as your bathroom.
Eliminate the unnecessary chemical pollutants in your home. Going green seems to be a trend, but it is a healthy one. There are a wealth of green cleaning supplies available online or at your local supermarket or convenience mart. You can also find tips on using everyday household items, such as baking soda and vinegar, to clean and deodorize your home.
Try to keep up with your HVAC system manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations. Having your system serviced regularly will allow you to keep them in working condition and lessen the need for replacement as well as the indoor pollution level.
Build or renovate using green materials when the time comes. Green home remodeling is not as expensive as it used to be and you can think of the extra costs as an investment into your health that will lower your medical costs down the line. Research environmentally friendly materials and check their V. O. C. levels to ensure you know they’re safe for use.
Create a regular home cleaning system. Cleaning your home on a regular basis contributes greatly to reducing air pollution inside your home. This especially relates to pollution from pets, smoking, mites, pollen and other issues. Purchasing a HEPA filter vacuum can also assist you with greatly improving the air quality.