Air pollution may seem as though it only exists outside in the form of smoke stacks and car exhaust. However, plenty of pollution is generated within the walls of your home as well. It’s important to improve indoor air quality if you want to breathe easy all year-round. Here are four tips to improve the air you breathe every day.
Control Pollution at the Source
Eliminate furnishings and products you know are contributing to indoor air pollution. These include gas stoves that vent improperly, anything that contains asbestos and products that give off VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. Also avoid using chemical cleaners, aerosols and artificial fragrances, and don’t allow anyone to smoke inside.
Maintain Healthy Humidity
Dust mites and mold, two major contributors to indoor air pollution, love excess humidity. Georgia’s hot, humid summers are the perfect time for mites and mold to thrive. With a whole-house humidifier keeping the home at a comfortable 30 to 50 percent relative humidity, you’ll have far fewer problems with dust mites and mold aggravating your asthma and allergies.
Improve Ventilation
It’s impossible to improve indoor air quality so thoroughly that no pollution at all exists inside. That’s where ventilation comes in. It draws stale, damp air outside so you’re left with cleaner air on the inside.
The most basic way to increase ventilation is to open the windows when it’s nice outside, but during Georgia’s stifling summers, you want to keep those windows shut tightly and employ mechanical ventilation instead. This includes spot ventilation in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room as well as whole-house ventilation that consistently replaces stale indoor air with clean outdoor air.
Use Air Cleaners
Many types of air cleaners are available on the market today. These range from table-top room air cleaners to sophisticated whole-house systems. Most specialize in removing particles rather than gaseous pollution. Long-term performance relies on maintaining the air cleaner according to the manufacturer’s directions.
For more information on how to improve indoor air quality, please contact Byrd Heating and Air Conditioning in Savannah today. Our experience dates back to 1986.
