Air Quality in the Great Indoors
The winter season typically draws people indoors for long periods of time, often resulting in an increased incidence of airborne health concerns. Read on for some tips on how to maintain better indoor air quality, and subsequently better health!
While homeowners recognize the need to seal leaks around windows and doorframes to prevent expensive heat and air conditioning from escaping, the resulting airtight indoor air quality comes with its own issues, especially for those who suffer from allergies, asthma or other respiratory diseases.
Ideally, homes should include some air-circulating devices to ensure a level of air quality that's free from harmful pollutants, toxicants and contaminants. In addition to changing furnace filters, consider the following ideas to improve the indoor air quality in your own home this winter:
Air Purifiers. An air purifier helps to clean the air and subsequently eliminate dust, pollen and bacteria. Use a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to noticeably improve air quality.
Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers. Balanced indoor humidity levels are essential to healthy indoor air. If you're suffering from dry, itchy eyes and skin, or a dry throat and dried out, irritated nasal passages (making you more vulnerable to colds, sinus infections and the flu), a humidifier may be the solution, as it adds moisture to dry air. Conversely, a dehumidifier removes overly moist air that can harbor mold and bacteria.
If you've been feeling under the weather lately, you may want to check if your indoor air quality is to blame. Today's appliances and technology allows homeowners to control their indoor environmental air quality —there are even smart thermostats these days that detect outdoor allergens and adjust your indoor air accordingly!
