How You Can Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that your indoor air is actually more polluted than the air outside?

Our health is greatly influenced by the air we breathe. It is not just important to consider how pure the air is outdoors but also how clean it is within. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality can be 2x to 5x more contaminated than outside air—and this is due to allergens such as pet dander and dust mites, as well as fumes from paint, furniture polish, and cleaning chemicals.

When it comes to your health, one of the most crucial factors to consider is the air in your house. According to studies, indoor air can be up to 5x more contaminated than outside air.

That’s why it’s so vital to have decent indoor air quality. But what precisely does that mean? Does this imply that you must purchase a slew of expensive filters and air purifiers? Not necessarily. There are plenty of simple ways you can improve the air quality in your home—and they’ll help you breathe easier too!

In this post, we will discuss the causes of indoor air problems, how poor air quality can damage your health, as well as some ideas on how to improve indoor air quality.

Primary Causes of Indoor Air Problems

Wondering which factor would increase poor indoor air quality?

Indoor air quality problems can be caused by a wide variety of factors. Here are some of the most common:

-Poor ventilation

-Inadequate heating and cooling systems

-Improperly installed insulation, which can trap moisture and cause mold growth

-Unvented gas appliances such as clothes dryers or furnaces

-Mold growth in humid areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements

-Poor building design and construction

-Poor ventilation and/or filtration systems

-Inadequate occupant practices

-Dirty filters in heating and cooling systems

-Dirty ducts in heating and cooling systems

-Chemical contamination from sources such as cleaning products, paints, adhesives, pesticides, and drug labs.

How poor air quality can damage your health?

The air you breathe can be just as harmful as the food you eat. In fact, it’s been shown that air pollution can cause more deaths than all forms of pollution combined.

Air pollution is a severe threat to our health, and sometimes it’s hard to see how it affects us.

Here are some of the ways that poor air quality may impact your health:

  1. Poor air quality can damage your mental health
  2. Poor air quality can damage your physical health
  3. Poor air quality can damage your social and emotional health
  4. Poor air quality can damage your immune system
  5. Poor air quality can damage your respiratory system
  6. Asthma attacks can be exacerbated by poor air quality.
  7. Poor air quality can induce coughing, sneezing, and eye and nose discomfort.
  8. High blood pressure can be caused by poor air quality.

What Benefits Can You Get from Improved Indoor Air Quality?

Now that you know how poor air quality can damage your health, it’s time to see how you can benefit from an improved indoor air quality monitor.

The quality of the air you breathe is critical to your health. The air you breathe in has a significant influence on your health, and the quality of your indoor air is particularly crucial. If you have poor indoor air quality or are exposed to polluted air for an extended length of time, you may develop major health concerns.

Improving indoor air quality may be simple and inexpensive. There are many things you can do in your house to know how you can improve indoor air quality. Here are some of the benefits:

Comfort and well-being have improved

Your house should make you feel at ease and welcome, yet poor air quality can cause discomfort and make it difficult to unwind in your own space.

Improving indoor air quality will assist in raising your comfort levels, leading to a higher overall sense of well-being.

Better Respiratory Health

If you have a family member who suffers from respiratory problems, it is critical that you maintain good indoor air quality in your house. The CDC believes that about 25 million people are affected.

Asthma and other respiratory diseases are common in the United States. Many of these ailments are aggravated by poor indoor air quality caused by contaminants such as dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander.

Better cognitive function

Improved air quality has been shown in studies to improve cognitive function, which includes everything from greater memory to sharper attention to detail.

Long-term health advantages

Improved indoor air quality has also been proven in studies to offer long-term health advantages, such as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, asthma, and other respiratory disorders.

Increased energy efficiency

Efficiency is something we all strive for, but it can be difficult to achieve in our homes. The EPA estimates that up to 50% of energy used in homes is wasted due to poor insulation or inefficient systems. That’s money going down the drain, literally! You don’t want to waste money on heating and cooling bills when you could be saving it by improving your home’s interior environment with better air quality.

Tips to Improve indoor air quality

You spend a lot of time at home.

You work there. You eat there. You sleep there. Your kids play there. And when you’re not actually in your home, you’re probably thinking about it or remembering what it’s like to be there.

So it makes sense that the quality of the air in your house matters—a lot!

Here are some tips to help you improve indoor air quality:

Clean your filter regularly.

Filters that are clogged can restrict airflow and push your HVAC system to work harder than required. This results in increased energy costs and a less pleasant living environment for you and your family.

Check that your HVAC system is in good working order.

Your HVAC system cleans the air in your home by pulling in dirty outside air and filtering it through a series of filters before recirculating it. If your filter is dirty or clogged, the procedure will be hindered since it will have to work harder to filter out all of the dirt and dust!

So it’s important to have regular maintenance checks done by HVAC Professionals in Columbia and Mid-Missouri so that it works efficiently and doesn’t cause any problems or waste energy.

Regularly change your air filters.

Air filters are designed to trap dust, pollen, and other particles as they pass through them. But over time, these filters will become clogged with dust and other debris, which means that they’re no longer able to trap particles from the air around us effectively. That’s why we recommend changing your filter every 90 days or so—even if it doesn’t look dirty!

Test for Radon and Other Potential Hazards

Radon is a type of radioactive gas that can enter your home through cracks and leaks in the foundation or floorboards. If you suspect this might be an issue in your home, test for radon with a do-it-yourself kit available at hardware stores or online retailers like Amazon or Home Depot (or even just Google “radon testing kits”). If levels are high enough, contact an indoor air quality testing professional who can install mitigation systems like ventilation fans or subfloor ventilation pipes, which can significantly reduce radon levels in most cases without having to tear up your floors or walls (which can be expensive).

Improve ventilation

By increasing the volume of fresh air carried into the residence, improved ventilation can minimize the number of airborne particles and contaminants. Ventilation can be increased by adding a window fan, opening windows or doors, or installing an exhaust fan in the kitchen.

Reduce dampness

Damp areas in your home can increase moisture levels, which can make it difficult for filters to filter out contaminants. Ensure that your humidifier is operating properly and that you have a water-efficient toilet installed. Additionally, understanding how do humidifiers work can help you optimize their use and improve overall indoor air quality.

Bring nature indoors

Bringing nature indoors is a great way to improve the air quality in your home. Get a houseplant, or even a few! They’ll purify the air and add some life to your space.

Regularly inspect and maintain your HVAC system

If you notice any unusual changes in your home’s comfort levels, like warmer than usual temperatures or higher than normal humidity levels, then it may be time for an inspection of your heating and cooling system. Many heating and cooling systems can be repaired or serviced with little cost, but if they are not maintained properly, then they can cause serious damage to your home’s structure over time! Call a professional HVAC repair and maintenance service provider and opt for an annual maintenance plan to keep your HVAC system up to date. Additionally, if your plumbing system is outdated or you’re considering upgrades, we can assist with garbage disposal installation to ensure your kitchen runs smoothly and efficiently.

Bottom Line

When it comes to improving your indoor air quality, there are a lot of things you can do to help. From cleaning your home regularly and using a humidifier when needed to changing the air filters in your appliances and choosing natural cleaning products, you have no shortage of options.

If you’ve been struggling with poor indoor air quality in your home or office, try out some of the above-listed tips and see how they work for you!

Do you live in Columbia or Mid-Missouri, and are you looking for a professional indoor air quality testing service?

Master Tech Plumbing is here to help. We provide superior quality of service, and we’re proud to offer it to the residents of our area. We’ve been providing this type of service for over 30 years, and we know how important it is to have a safe living environment.

Our technicians are qualified to identify the source of any issues you may be experiencing with your indoor air quality and will work with you to develop a plan to correct it. We can also help you choose the right filters and other equipment to keep your air fresh and healthy.

Whether you need a simple repair or replacement of your furnace or air conditioner, or if you’re looking for an evaluation of your home’s indoor air quality, we have you covered!

Don’t wait until you’ve fallen ill—make sure your home is safe today!

Call us today to schedule an appointment with our air quality testing experts!

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