Why an Energy-Efficient Residence Can
Influence Air Quality and How to Improve It
Homes today are built with energy efficiency in mind. This entails more insulation and tightly sealed doors and windows to keep utility expenses down. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not so great for your indoor air quality.
Since air has reduced chances to escape, chemicals can build up and reduce your home’s indoor air quality. In fact, your home’s air can actually be 2–5 times worse than the outdoors, according to the EPA. That’s not good for anyone, but it’s particularly detrimental for loved ones with allergies, asthma, other respiratory disorders or heart disease.
Let’s review some of these routine pollutants and how you can boost your residence’s indoor air quality.
6 Everyday Pollutants that Impact Indoor Air Quality
When you envision pollutants, you might think about smog or tobacco smoke. But many substances that decrease your air quality are common substances. These things contain chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
They entail:
- Cleaning products, like aerosol sprays, bleach and window cleaner.
- Personal care products, such as hairspray, perfume and nail products.
- Candles and air fresheners.
- Formaldehyde, which is commonly used in plastic, foam and particleboard products.
- Furniture, window treatments and carpet, especially when they’re brand new.
- Paints and stains.
Other everyday pollutants include:
- Dust
- Pet dander
- Pollen
- Mold
Symptoms of VOC Exposure
Some people are more sensitive to VOCs than others. The EPA says symptoms of VOC exposure involve:
- Irritated eyes, nose or throat
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
In severe instances, the EPA says VOCs can lead to respiratory and heart diseases.
4 Ways to Enhance Your Residence’s Indoor Air Quality
It isn’t difficult to enhance your house’s air quality. Here are several recommendations from Harvard Medical School:
1. Clean Your House Regularly
Regularly cleaning and washing surfaces that attract allergens, like furniture, carpet and bedding, will help decrease on dust, dust mites and pet dander in your home.
2. Routinely Replace Your Air Filter
This crucial filter keeps your house comfy and air fresh. How often you should change your air filter depends on the kind of filter you use. Flat filters should be changed every month, while pleated filters should be replaced every three months. If you don’t know if your filter should be changed, remove it and angle it to the light. Install a new one if you can’t see light through it.
If someone in your household deals with allergies or asthma, we advise having a filter with a greater MERV rating. The bigger the number this is, the better your filter is at removing contaminants.
3. Improve Natural Ventilation
Keep fresh air moving by opening windows whenever the weather allows. We also advise turning on exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen regularly to eliminate pollutants and draw in more fresh air.
4. Call Our Indoor Air Quality Pros
From whole-home air purifiers, Winnipeg Supply Service Experts has a fix to help your family breathe better. We’ll help you select the ideal option during your free home comfort assessment. Contact us at 204-800-0613 to book yours today!
