Indoor Air Quality
According to the EPA, the air inside the average home is up
to five times more polluted than the air outside. Pollen,
dust mites, dirt, and mold spores in your home’s air can
cause minor health problems like eye and nose irritation,
dizziness, and headaches. Indoor air pollution can also
cause more serious problems like respiratory illness, as
well as aggravate allergies and asthma. There are three ways
you can improve the air quality in your home:
Source Control
You can eliminate many pollutants like dust and pet dander
by careful household cleaning. Making sure your heating and
air conditioning systems are well-maintained also helps
remove pollutants before they reach your home, and cleaning
air duct systems may be helpful in keeping your systems
maintained.
Improved Ventilation
You can decrease the concentration of indoor pollutants by
increasing the quantity of air circulating. Open windows and
doors, and use window or attic fans. Bathroom and kitchen
exhaust fans move indoor pollutants out of the room, and
increase the outdoor ventilation rate at the same time.
Air Cleaners
Well-maintained and efficient air cleaners can significantly
lower the amount of pollutants in the air. Their usefulness
varies considerably, depending on the type of cleaner
(table-top models will probably be less effective than a
whole-house system), and on the strength of the indoor
pollution source.