Indoor Air Quality: Use Prevention for Peace of Mind

[Micheal Jorden]

Many of us have this nagging worry in the trunk of our minds. We might be reminded of it once we hear a health story on TV, or once we cough and sneeze.

Most of us understand that the air you breathe is essential to your all around health, but how have you any idea if your home has poor quality of air? How will you fight a threat you can't even see? Fortunately Indoor Air Quality Testing, you can find simple and easy steps that anyone can decide to try protect their home from the most common sourced elements of unhealthy air.

Common Problems

Poor indoor quality of air can occur in just about any home as a result of both artificial and natural factors. These include dust, smoke and fine particles, along with volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) Whole Home Air Humidifiers, pesticides and mold.

A small amount of these contaminants are unavoidable, no real matter what you do. But when they accumulate unchecked, they are able to result in health conditions over time. For example, dust can cause irritation and allergy symptoms, particularly when dust mites which feed on the dust multiply and create contamination.

Like dust, mold spores are present in every home. Normally this is simply not a cause for concern, but when you have had flooding in your basement Indoor Air Quality, a leaky roof or you reside in an area where humidity is a concern, then mold will take hold and spread. This may result in allergies and irritation of the eyes and throat.

Sometimes we subscribe to indoor air pollution ourselves. Most of us know about the hazards of smoking indoors, but any indoor burning can reduce quality of air, including candles and improperly ventilated fireplaces or gas stoves.

Problem air also can result from careless use and storage of chemicals, including paints, solvents, cleaning products and pesticides. Even some air fresheners and scented products can release harmful gases. So much for outdoors!

But even innocuous household materials like furniture and building materials can emit irritating chemical gases like formaldehyde. These chemicals are normally released only in small quantities, nevertheless the more chemicals you introduce into your indoor environment, the greater the opportunity of developing health problems.

Taking Action

You are able to protect the fitness of your home's air like you protect your own personal health - by taking preventative steps to steadfastly keep up it. A successful way to steadfastly keep up indoor air is by promoting air circulation. Keep windows open on opposite sides of the house so air can move through easily. When you yourself have a furnace with mechanical ventilation, you can keep carefully the fan running continuously to help keep air moving.

Ventilation helps to keep humidity down and control mold. Use an exhaust fan in the bathroom and an assortment hood in the kitchen. Inspect your basement for mold growth and use a dehumidifier if necessary.

If you utilize a fireplace or wood stove, have it inspected yearly for leaks and blockage. Good quality air purifiers also can significantly reduce dust and smoke.

Avoid the use of chemicals in the house whenever possible. Use natural alternatives to chemical cleaners like baking soda and vinegar. For pests, use ant traps and sticky paper, as opposed to chemical sprays. Keep paint cans and chemicals in the garage or shed.

Maintaining and protecting indoor air isn't difficult in the event that you make a practice of it. By reducing the contaminants in your house, you will reap the rewards of better health and well-being.