Most people are surprised to learn that the air in their home interior could be more polluted than the air outside. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that each year, approximately 4.3 million people worldwide die from exposure to pollutants inside the home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), interior air is often 2-5 times as polluted as the air outdoors.
In some cases, this could be attributed to pollutants we introduce, such as dust, dander, wood smoke, smoke from tobacco products, pesticides, chemical cleaners, and more. What if you have removed such pollutants from your home, though, and you continue to suffer from respiratory, skin, and other health issues related to indoor air pollution?
There are several things you can do to improve your situation, including pinpointing problem areas in order to find solutions. Here are some steps every household could take to combat air pollution in the home.
Regular Cleaning
Cleaning and airing out your home regularly is probably the best way to clear out pollutants and ensure fresh, breathable air. If you are prone to respiratory issues like asthma or allergies already, consider switching to non-toxic, green cleaning solvents that are less likely to cause harm.
Don’t forget to keep up with the dust in your home, taking the time to address your ceiling fans, get under furniture and appliances, and see to dryer vent cleaning at least once or twice a year. You could also consider researching industrial cleaning services that offer green cleaning solutions if you simply don’t have time in your busy schedule to keep up with household cleaning.
HVAC Maintenance
Whether you use forced air heating in the winter, central AC in the summer, or both, your HVAC system blows a lot of air around your house. You should therefore hire a professional technician for AC and/or furnace cleaning annually, as well as duct inspection.
You want to make sure that HVAC system is functioning at peak efficiency and that your equipment and ducts aren’t clogged with dust, allergens, and even mold or mildew that could be blowing into your living spaces every time machinery kicks on. You might even want to replace your regular filters with HEPA filters designed to trap the finest particulates and many pollutants.
Home Energy Audit
Arranging for annual dryer vent cleaning as well as regular air conditioner and furnace cleaning can do a lot to keep your indoor air clean, but if you want to make sure outdoor pollutants aren’t making their way indoors, you should also perform a home energy audit. This service is intended to find areas of energy waste in your home, including leaks around windows, doors, vents, pipes, and other points of ingress.
When you seal these leaks, you’ll not only lower energy costs, but also cut down on indoor air pollution, provided you install appropriate ventilation (the “V” in HVAC) to ensure that indoor air doesn’t grow stale.