Improving indoor air quality is important. With so much attention paid to air pollution outside our homes, it’s odd that many people don’t focus on indoor air quality. Yet, the air we breathe inside is just as important as the air we breathe outside. In fact, due to the amount of time we spend inside, it’s easy to make the case that the air quality inside is even more important.
What is Indoor Air Quality?
Air quality is a measurement of the health quality of the air inside a residence, business, or building of any type. It is measured by testing collected air samples, measuring airflow, collecting samples from surfaces (i.e. walls and ceilings), and measurements of human exposure to pollutants.
Indoor air quality measurements are mainly concerned with not only how comfortable a building’s air is to breathe, but also how breathing affects overall health. Measurements and tests generally look for organic pollutants such as molds and bacteria and harmful gasses such as carbon monoxide and radon.
The quality of your indoor air can have a lifelong impact on your family. While few people recognize the importance of clean air and how it affects their health, many are suffering from symptoms of poor air quality, without understanding the source.
Suppose you find yourself dealing with some respiratory issues that seem to disappear when you change location. In that case, this is an indication that you may require the indoor air quality services of a reputable, professional team. In the meantime, though, there are some steps you can take to improve the quality of the air inside your home in Phoenix, AZ, and surrounding cities.
Steps to Improve Indoor Air Quality
1. Change Filters Regularly
Your air conditioner, vacuum, kitchen vents, and clothes dryer all contain filters that try to separate dust, dirt, and other contaminants from the air you breathe. As these filters do their job, they become dirty themselves. This doesn’t just ruin the air quality inside your home; it makes those appliances work harder each time you turn them on.
Each appliance should have manufacturers’ instructions that detail how often their filter needs cleaning or replacement. It’s best for your air conditioner or heating system to do this at least once a year.
2. Check Your Air Ducts
Air ducts can serve as the central base from which contaminants and pollutants spread through your house. If they are left uncleaned, dust, dirt, and bacteria can begin to build up. Then, every time you switch on your heater or air conditioner, the conditioned air sweeps those gross particles through the ducts where they exit through your home’s vents.
You want your HVAC system to spread clean air. For that to happen, the ducts themselves need to be clean. Otherwise, you may find yourself dealing with regular asthma or allergy attacks. Ideally, you should have air ducts cleaned at least once a year, but you should consider doing it more often if you live in a dusty environment, like Phoenix, AZ.
3. Consider Your Plants
Plants are often considered beneficial to air quality due to their ability to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. So, it makes sense to include indoor greenery, especially ferns and lilies, because they may take in contaminants and release clean, breathable oxygen.
However, some plants may actually trigger allergies for some people. Depending on the plant, they may also encourage the growth and development of mold spores. If you have plants inside and are suffering from allergy-related issues, you may want to keep your greenery outside.
4. Improve the Ventilation
While we often consider the air our HVAC systems push through our house to be fresh, that air is usually re-circulated from inside the home. So, if your indoor air quality is poor, turning on your HVAC will just keep pushing that same dirty air throughout your home.
A ventilation system with built-in filtering and air purification systems can help remove harmful substances from the air and greatly improve overall air quality in a home or business.
We’re lucky that the Valley often provides sunny days that allow us to keep our windows open. According to the EPA, when we open a window, we’re allowing fresh air to enter our home and improving ventilation. This is especially important if you’re engaging in any tasks, like painting or cooking, that may release fumes or smoke into your home’s environment.
5. Maintain a Clean Home
The quality of air inside your home can be reflective of the level of cleaning conducted within your home. If you don’t take the time to regularly dust and sanitize your home, you may be passively encouraging poor indoor air quality.
It’s especially important to clean your carpets and rugs at least once a week. Due to their fibrous nature, they easily trap dirt and other contaminants. When you vacuum, try to use a vacuum that contains a HEPA filter. This will help ensure the vacuumed particles aren’t immediately released back into the air.
6. Use an Air Purifier
There are times when it may be difficult to identify the source of your home’s poor indoor air quality. There may also be times when you have uncovered the source but aren’t willing to part with it, as is often the case with a furry pet.
In those cases, an air purifier can help remove some of these irritants from the air. Even if you can’t remove the source of the allergy-inducing particles, you can benefit by simply reducing the concentration of allergens in the air.
7. Get Indoor Air Testing
Having indoor air quality testing done to ensure there are no odorless pollutants in the air is advised. For example, the air pollutant – radon is colorless and odorless gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Due to its aforementioned properties, it can only be detected by testing the air.
Health Benefits of Improving Indoor Air Quality
By performing a home or business air quality test, you can make sure the air you breathe is healthy. This has several health benefits, including a reduction in allergy ailments, a reduction in odors, reducing the chance to be exposed to carcinogens that can cause serious illness, improved sleep, easier breathing, and an overall reduction in energy costs.
Call A-Z Air Duct to Improve Your Air Quality in Phoenix, AZ
At A-Z Air Duct, we are Phoenix, AZ, and surrounding areas’ go-to source for residential and commercial air duct cleaning services. We use state-of-the-art purifiers and air scrubbers to rid your home of allergens, contaminants, and pollutants. Put simply; we can make it easier to breathe whenever you’re inside.
Reach out today for a free quote. You can call us at 602-466-2234 or contact us through our website
Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter-1
https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/indoor-air-homes-and-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
Featured Image Credit / dizain