Indoor air quality is essential, as it can significantly affect your mood, health, and the overall feel of your home. However, if you notice more dizzy spells, headaches, or mysterious health issues, this might be due to poor air quality inside your house.
Breathing in harmful airborne pollutants can be detrimental to your health, especially in children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses. Here are some common causes of poor indoor air quality and simple ways to prevent them.
1. Pet dander
Dander from dogs, cats, and hamsters contains tiny proteins that trigger allergies and asthma. Unlike other allergens, pet dander is microscopic and remains in the air for a long time, making it hard to clean or remove.
Allergic people in a household with pets may experience a runny nose, sneezing or itchy eyes. It’s recommended to have an air purifier in your home, especially if you have allergies or asthma. An air purifier with a HEPA filter, such as the Alen 75i air purifier, can effectively remove pet dander and clean the air.
2. Mold
Mold is likely to grow in various places in your home, including basements, especially if there is excess moisture in the air. If left unremoved, the mold problem will eventually worsen and emit more spores into the air you breathe.
These microscopic spores can cause various health issues, such as asthma, respiratory issues, or allergies. It’s essential to maintain the ideal humidity level in your home. A portable dehumidifier can also help clear the excess humidity that may promote mold growth in your home.
3. Poor ventilation
Ventilation plays a vital role in your indoor air quality. However, poor ventilation can cause a build-up of carbon dioxide, resulting in little oxygen and an increased concentration of airborne contaminants. This can cause significant discomforts such as dry throats, shortness of breath, fatigue, and headaches.
Ensuring your home, particularly the bathroom and kitchen, are properly ventilated can help improve indoor air quality. Opening windows, running exhaust fans, or using an air filter will help clear out the invisible particles in your home.
4. Cleaning products
Cleaning products can also lead to indoor air pollution. Liquid products such as detergents or aerosol sprays can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are gasses in nature. Direct exposure to these chemicals can lead to chronic respiratory issues or allergic reactions.
To reduce or eliminate exposure to these indoor air pollutants, use EPA-certified cleaning products. You should also allow adequate ventilation during and after using these cleaning agents.
5. Cigarette smoke
Another common and most dangerous indoor air pollutant is the smoke from cigarettes. Tobacco smoke contains a dangerous mixture of more than 7,000 chemicals, including formaldehyde and polonium 210, which can cause cancer. It might be difficult to make your home smoke-free, especially if you are a regular smoker. However, limiting the number of cigarettes you smoke or increasing ventilation in your home can go a long way in improving your indoor air quality.
Endnote
Homeowners rarely consider their indoor air quality when trying to boost their well-being at home. However, since you and your family likely spend most of the time inside the house, it is important to improve indoor air quality. Being aware and proactive about these common causes of poor indoor air quality can help you better ensure the comfort and safety of everyone in your house.
