Homeowners from the Piedmont Triad to the Outer Banks frequently call us with concerns about their indoor air quality, and with good reason. The EPA has classified poor indoor air quality as one of the top 5 environmental risks to public health, stating that indoor air is five times more polluted than outdoor air on average.
Bad indoor air quality can cause chronic headaches, sinus problems, flu-like symptoms and a host of other health problems, so it’s important to know what factors are contributing to your home’s air quality and what you can do to reduce the air quality problems you may be experiencing.
The 5 Key Factors Impacting Your Home’s Air Quality
#1 Humidity
North Carolina homeowners are no strangers to humidity. We know all too well how it feels to step out the front door into a day that feels like hot soup. But everyone may not realize that humidity can have a serious negative impact on your indoor air quality.
Your AC system automatically dehumidifies your indoor air as it cools your home, but if your air conditioner can’t keep up with our humid climate, it can lead to sticky indoor air and a house that smells swampy. Combat excess humidity by having a dehumidifier installed.
#2 Regular Maintenance
There are a lot of reasons to keep up with your annual HVAC maintenance—including longer system life, lower energy bills and fewer repair costs—but did you know regular maintenance can improve your indoor air quality as well? Your annual maintenance visits include cleaning all parts and components of your HVAC system, which keeps dirt and debris out of your home’s air.
#3 Pets
The dander from pet fur and skin can cause serious problems for your indoor air quality. Pet dander can induce allergic reactions that range from itchy skin to swollen eyes and persistent sniffles. Since you’re not going to get rid of your beloved pet to improve your air quality, get rid of the dander instead with a good air filtration system.
#4 House Plants
In addition to providing great aesthetic value to your home, houseplants also help clean the air. All plants help filter the air and convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, but there are several filtration powerhouses that go above and beyond to freshen your home’s air. Invest in the following plants to improve your indoor air quality:
- Bamboo Palms
- Peace Lilies
- Dracaena
- Aloe Vera
- Mums
- Weeping Fig
- Snake Plants
- Spider Plants
#5 Cleaning Products
Having a clean home is important to indoor air quality, but it’s also important that you use the right kinds of cleaning products. This is because a lot of cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that can hurt your air quality as much as not cleaning would.
VOCs can cause eye and throat irritation, nausea and increased allergy and asthma symptoms. Look for cleaning products that contain no VOCs to prevent air quality problems in your home.
Improve Your Air Quality With Comfort First
Comfort First offers multiple options to improve your home’s indoor air quality. If you’re worried about the quality of your home’s air, call us at 800-279-4822 to perform an air quality assessment.
