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Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc - Indoor Air Quality Tips

Indoor Air Quality Tips

Having an air purification system in place is a great step to take when you’re trying to improve the overall air quality in your home. But it’s not the only thing you can do. In fact, there are many small steps you can take to cut down on the number of particulate contaminants that make it into your indoor air to begin with.

Cut Out the Chemicals

One common indoor air pollutant that you may not think about much are the chemicals you introduce to the air when you use a variety of common household products. For instance, many cleaning products have harmful chemicals that will linger in your household air and can build up over time to become a real threat to your family’s health.

Also, many health and beauty products include a substantial number of chemicals that can get into the air as well, so it’s a good idea to look for items that don’t contain the worst of these compounds. More and more natural cleaners and personal care products are finding their way onto the market every day, so you should have no trouble finding some that work just as well as your old products without adding any more pollution to your indoor air.

Eliminate Mold

Mold is another big problem when it comes to maintaining high quality indoor air. Mold spores are an irritant to a lot of people and can even make members of your family sick. You can often have a mold problem and not even be aware of it because of the way that mold tends to grow in damp, out of the way places.

Not only can this be a threat to the structural integrity of your home if it is allowed to persist, but it will significantly impact your overall indoor air quality. So make sure that any leaky areas in the roof, walls or foundation are found and sealed up at once. Putting a dehumidifier in chronically damp areas of your home can also help to cut down on the ability of mold to infiltrate your house.

No Smoking Inside

Smoking indoors is one of the top contributors to indoor air pollution and it is completely avoidable. Simply make the rule that there is no smoking allowed inside your house. Secondhand smoke causes all types of health problems for those who breathe it in. It can intensify allergy and asthma symptoms and it will also damage and stain your indoor furnishings and walls.

Building Materials

Many building materials contain compounds that can release indoor air contaminants given the right set of circumstances. Even particular types of paint will continue to release gasses long after the fumes that you can smell have disappeared. Make sure that whatever materials you or any contractors you hire are using when doing work on your home are not going to add to indoor air pollution.

Regulate Humidity

Having the humidity level in your house adjusted just right is a great way to improve the overall indoor air quality. Air that is too dry can cause your skin to crack and itch and can even intensify allergy and cold symptoms. Also, properly humidified air allows air purification systems to work more effectively, helping them to do their job and improve the overall quality of the air circulating throughout your home.

You’ll also benefit because air without excess humidity will inhibit the spread of certain allergens. Mold won’t be able to grow and spread without high levels of humidity, and dust mites also can’t survive when humidity levels in your home are below 50%.

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