Tips for Improving Your Home Air Quality
Posted in Air Quality, on December 12, 2019
Having healthy, clean air quality at home is one of the most important - and under appreciated - parts of healthy living in the modern world. As we learn more about the factors causing low indoor air quality and the effects it has on our mood, health, and indoor comfort, working towards healthy home air quality is one of the easiest projects that homeowners can take on.
Poor indoor air quality at home can be caused by a number of factors, such as chemicals used in building materials or cleaning products; outdoor air pollution from roadways, factories or other environmental factors; emissions from appliances or heating appliances like fireplaces or wood stoves; and dust, dirt, or dander.
Five Easy Ways to Improve your Home Air Quality
Making improvements to your living environment will have positive effects on everything from the quality of your sleep to the length and severity that you suffer from the flu. There are many ways to improve your indoor air quality that cost thousands of dollars - but solutions don’t have to be expensive to be effective. Read on for our top five tips for improving your home air quality.
Increase ventilation: Fresh air is an important step in improving your indoor air quality. If there is no airflow in your home, toxic substances can collect or problems like mold growth can proliferate. Increasing airflow is as easy as opening windows and doors on a breezy day - choose the early morning or late evening if you live in a crowded urban environment.
Change the filters on your furnace and air conditioner: Most modern furnaces or air conditioners are fitted with filters that capture dust, particles and other toxins, keeping them out of your air. Regularly change this filter to ensure that theres no buildup - most products recommend a swap every 3-4 months.
Install a HEPA filter: Purchasing a HEPA filter or vacuum with a HEPA attachment can help reduce air quality issues by capturing the smallest particles.
Keep houseplants: In the 1980’s, NASA studied the effects of common houseplants on air quality and found that they could help to reduce indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, many of the studied plants, like the snake plant and spider plant, are easy to grow indoors all year round.
Choose low-VOC products: If you’re planning a renovation project, do your research on glues, solvents, paints, and other building materials that are produced in an environmentally friendly way and are labelled low-VOC. This will help you reduce the amount of airborne pollutants that your renovation causes, and keep your home healthier.
Work with SafeAir to Improve your Home
There are many different options out there for homeowners wanting to improve their living environment. Indoor air quality is a common issue in homes across Southern Ontario, but it doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars to fix. At SafeAir, we specialize in indoor air quality and in finding solutions that fit your needs and budget. Get in touch with us online or by phone at 416-414-5690 for more information on our services.