Indoor Air Pollutions: Common Sources and What You Can Do

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It may be hard for many people to believe, but the air inside your home can be twice as dirty as the air outside of your home. The reason for this is because the air inside of the home is essentially airtight, which traps pollutants. Keep reading to learn some of the more common sources of indoor air pollution and what you can do about them.

Common Air Pollutants Inside Your Home

Believe it or not, the majority of the things that are polluting your indoor air are things that you use daily.

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs are substances that come from very basic household items like plastics and paints via a process referred to as off-gassing. The process of off-gassing can take several years. Unfortunately, this means that the paint on your walls that was applied five years ago can still be released pollutants into the air.
• Tobacco Smoke: When someone smokes inside the home, it causes nicotine stains to be left on books, clothes, and many other things. In addition, it serves as an indoor pollutant that can result in respiratory issues for smokers and non-smokers in the home.
• Radon: Small amounts of uranium can be located in rock and soil, and as this uranium breaks down, it will release radon gas. This gas can then seep up through cracks in the concrete floors, dirt floors, as well as floor drains.
• Exhaust: If not vented properly, the exhaust from stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces can introduce carbon monoxide and soot inside the home.
• Biological Agents: Biological agents like pollen, animal dander, and even mold found in the home can cause a variety of respiratory issues.

Fighting Air Pollutants Inside Your Home

You may not have realized there were so many pollutants contaminating the air inside of your home. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to minimize these pollutants.

• Regularly Replace the HVAC Filters: The air filters in your HVAC filter are designed to catch the majority of the pollutants in the air, which is why it is so important to replace these filters on a regular basis. Ideally, these filters should be checked and changed every three months, but during times of heavy use, such as the summer and winter, they may need to be changed every month.
• Open the Windows: Each day, you should strive to open up the windows in your home to allow a fresh breeze to come in and push any pollutants in the air out of the home. If your HVAC system is working efficiently, combined with the open windows, this can keep the indoor air pollutants under control.
• Control the Humidity Levels: By installing an indoor humidifier/dehumidifier, you can keep the indoor humidity levels at an appropriate range, preventing the growth of mold and mildew.
• Alter Your Lifestyle Habits: Make some simple changes to your current lifestyle habits, such as going outside to smoke and regularly bathing your pets, as these actions can go a long way in minimizing certain indoor pollutants.

If you would like to learn more, contact an air conditioning service in your area.

6 August 2020