According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor air pollution can cause several health issues. A few of these health issues may occur soon after exposure, such as irritation of the eyes or allergies. Some health issues may crop up years later due to prolonged exposure to indoor air pollutants. So what can you do to maintain healthy indoor air quality?
Read on to learn more about the dangers of poor indoor air quality and the steps you can take to ensure healthy indoor air quality for your family. For more help improving IAQ with your HVAC system and other indoor air quality solutions, contact the heating and air conditioning experts at Galmiche & Sons today.
Why Is Healthy Indoor Air Quality Important?
The air quality indoors has a significant impact on your health. You can survive a few days without food and water, but you cannot survive without air for more than a few minutes. Air is essential for our survival, and the air we breathe in should be as clean as possible. Clean air nourishes your lungs with oxygen, and consequently your blood and other organs of the body. The cleaner the air you breathe in, the healthier you will be.
Exposure to poor indoor air could lead to many health problems, some occur after a single exposure and some after repeated exposures. Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, allergies, dizziness, and headaches may occur after a short exposure to unhealthy air. People suffering from asthma may feel their symptoms worsening when the air quality indoors is poor.
Prolonged exposure to poor indoor air can also have long-term effects on your health. You may develop respiratory illnesses, heart disease, or even cancer in the long run.
What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality?
What are the sources of air pollution indoors? Here are a few:
- Smoking and cooling fumes
- Excess moisture
- Fuel-burning combustion appliances
- Deteriorated insulation that contains asbestos
- Newly installed carpet, upholstery, or flooring
- Household cleaning products
- Heating and cooling systems
- Humidification devices, and more
How Can You Ensure Healthy Indoor Air Quality?
Here are a few measures can help you maintain the healthy indoor air quality in your home.
Clean Your House
Keeping a clean house is the first step to improving the air quality indoors. Daily or frequent cleaning reduce the amount of dust and dander in your house, which automatically reduces indoor air pollution to a great extent. Vacuum your rugs and carpets at least once a week. If you suffer from allergies, switch out your carpet floors for hard surface flooring.
Ensure that your curtains, bedding, and other items that attract allergens are also cleaned regularly.
Change Your Air Filters
Dust and dirt settle on your air filters over a period of time and with consistent HVAC system use. The trapped contaminants can be recirculated around your house whenever you run your HVAC system. Cleaning your air filters regularly, and replacing them periodically can help you maintain healthy indoor air quality.
Get an Air Purifier
If you want to maintain healthy indoor air quality, consider investing in an air purifier. There are many different types of air purifiers available on the market, such as HEPA air purifiers, Ionic purifiers, and so on. Your air purifier should be able to capture most of the pollutants indoors, helping to improve indoor air quality.
Let the Fresh Air in
Open your windows on nice days, even in winter, to let fresh air in. This will prevent polluted air from many interior sources from recirculating in your house. However, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may want to skip this to prevent external allergens from coming in from the outdoors.
Want Healthy Indoor Air? Ask Galmiche & Sons How?
Galmiche & Sons is a leading name in the HVAC industry, serving homeowners and commercial clients in St. Louis and the surrounding areas since 1950. If you need help maintaining healthy indoor air quality, get help from our heating and air conditioning experts. Call us today at 314-993-1110.
