Unnecessary Ways People Ruin Their Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality and air quality in general has been on a lot of people’s minds as of late. With the coronavirus outbreak and the wildfires ravaging the West Coast, now is the perfect time to assess your own home’s indoor air quality and to see how you can improve it going forward. Here are some ways you may be harming your own indoor air quality and some tips to improve them!

Smoking

This one is probably a bit obvious and if you are a smoker, you’re probably not going to quit because of this blog. However, it would be silly not to mention it! Smoking can cause damage to your walls, air ducts, and carpeting, let alone impacting the air you and your family breathe. All that damage can have recurring issues that continue to come up for a long time going forward.

Ventilation Issues

Ventilation is the unsung hero of indoor air quality. Without ventilation, contaminants can get stuck in certain areas of your home. Additionally, ventilation is one of the key ways to get rid of excess humidity in your home, which can cause mold problems and other issues in your home.

Using Certain Household Products Excessively

There are plenty of products you may be using around the house that can damage your home’s indoor air quality. Examples include paint, certain types of adhesives, and cleaning products. It’s just important to be wary of any sprays you are using regularly and maybe hold off on using them all of the time.

Lack of Houseplants

Houseplants are really great additions to your home’s indoor air quality eco-system. They are nature’s way of recycling air and they can do the same for your home! If you don’t have that in your home, your home’s air quality is not going to be as great as it could be.

Creating the Perfect Environment for Household Mold

Mold is one of the most dangerous things to have a problem with from an air quality perspective. Mold spores can travel in the air and cause respiratory problems. Mold forms in areas that are dark with high humidity and that have a food source. Typically, this is in bathrooms, basements, or where there are leaks around the house. It’s important to be mindful and aware so you can stop mold before it grows.

So, How Can You Help Your Indoor Air Quality?

Schedule a Duct Cleaning

Air contaminants can settle in your ducts and cause issues for years. Smoking is one that can absolutely impact your ducts negatively. The chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause a sticky tar-like residue to stay on your ducts which requires intense professional cleaning to get rid of. Even if you are avoiding these bad habits, dust and dirt will inevitably cake the inside of your air ducts, so you’ll want to get a cleaning every 3-5 years.

Cleaning Your Home Has an Impact on Your Air Quality

Small particles that are in your carpet or on your counters will inevitably get kicked into the air and affect the air quality. Dusting and cleaning not only make your home look nicer, but it can have specific benefits to your respiratory health by clearing away potential pollutants.

Overall, there are so many ways you can improve your home air quality, but if you continue to practice bad habits you are in many ways setting yourself up for failure or at best mediocrity. Luckily, a few quick changes and your home will feel refreshing and welcoming!

The experts at Earnhardt Heating and Cooling can help you select a unit that works with your budget, lifestyle, and indoor comfort needs. To schedule an appointment, call (336) 814-2613 or contact online today