One very important part of maintaining your household is ensuring that your air quality stays consistently good. By keeping your home relatively clean of dust and dirt, taking good care of your HVAC appliances, and making sure your ventilation system is in good shape and cleaned regularly, you can make a very positive impact on the quality of the air that you breathe. You probably have heard indoor air quality discussed, but you may not be sure of the specifics of why it’s so important.
1. We Are Spending More Time at Home than Ever
According to the EPA, Americans on average spend 90% of their time indoors. This is partially due to the fact that with technological advances, more and more jobs are allowing their employees to work at home. Additionally, we have many more easily accessible ways of entertaining ourselves without leaving the house, as well. On average, people that are more susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution, such as the elderly and those with respiratory conditions, spend even more time indoors than most. Since air quality is typically much worse indoors than it is outside, it is even more important that we put in the extra effort to keep the air in our homes as clean as possible.
2. Many Extra Pollutants Indoors
As mentioned above, air quality is typically much worse indoors than it is outdoors. This is due to the fact that our houses contain many more different sources of pollutants and allergens. In addition to any potential pollution that comes inside when you open a window or doorway, you are also getting all of the unhealthy particles being produced right inside your home. Some of the most prominent examples are dander from pets, mold or mildew (if your ventilation system isn’t properly maintained), smoke pollution from indoor fires or cooking, and even chemicals kicked up in the air during various types of cleaning.
3. Indoor Air Quality Affects Our Health
When the air quality in your home is poor, it can result in a wide variety of different health problems, ranging from very minor to potentially life-threatening. On the more minor side, excess pollutants in your oxygen can cause irritation of your skin, nose, eyes, and throat. This usually presents itself in the form of unpleasant dryness and/or a persistent itchy feeling. Breathing in this unhealthy air can also, in some people, cause headaches, dizziness, or nausea.
While the ailments mentioned above are certainly unpleasant and inconvenient, they are nothing compared to the serious conditions that can occur from exposure to heavily polluted air. These include heart disease, various respiratory illnesses, and even cancer. Suffice to say, putting in the time and effort to keep your home’s air as clean as possible is well worth it.
Don’t neglect the indoor air quality that you and your family are breathing every day. You may not always be aware of it happening, but it can have very real effects both in the short and long term.
