What Are 5 Tips for Better Indoor Air Quality?

Picture this: You’re sitting comfortably at home, enjoying a quiet evening. The windows are shut tight against the bustling world outside. But what if we told you that the air you breathe indoors could be more polluted than the outside air? This is the hidden reality many of us live in, unknowingly spending our days in spaces with less-than-ideal air quality.

In today’s world, where wildfires, global pandemics, and climate change have brought renewed attention to the air we breathe, understanding indoor air quality has never been more important. But we also understand the need for practical solutions. Metro Heating & Cooling is here to help with five tips for better indoor air quality.

What Affects Indoor Air Quality?

Many things impact your indoor air quality. Pollutants like tobacco smoke, building materials, furniture, cleaning products, and HVAC systems all affect indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality doesn’t have a universally recognized standard measurement scale. Instead, individual elements are measured, and these results help inform us about the air quality. These elements include particulate matter, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide, humidity, and radon. By tracking these factors, you can better understand your indoor air quality.

The Future of Air Quality

Climate change may significantly influence the quality of the air we breathe, both outdoors and indoors. Rising global temperatures, which could result in more frequent and intense wildfires, are a key concern. These fires produce fine particles small enough to be inhaled, leading to numerous health problems, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung conditions. Meanwhile, changes in weather patterns could result in “stagnation events,” where still air leads to the accumulation of pollutants, and increased humidity levels can aid the growth of indoor contaminants like mold and dust mites.

Urbanization and energy consumption trends pose additional risks. With people spending roughly 90% of their time indoors, the Environmental Protection Agency has found that indoor spaces can have two to five times higher pollution levels than outside. This is exacerbated in cities, and as homes become more energy-efficient and airtight, they may trap pollutants indoors, further increasing exposure to indoor air pollutants.

Regularly monitoring air quality and understanding the contributing factors to indoor air pollution will also allow necessary adjustments to our indoor environments.

How Poor Air Quality Impacts Our Health

Knowing how poor indoor air quality can affect us is essential. Inhaling poor-quality air can lead to a host of health problems. Short-term effects may include coughing, throat irritation, and eye discomfort. Long-term exposure can lead to serious conditions like heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases.

Keeping the air inside your home as clean as possible is vital for anyone, but the effects of poor indoor air quality can be more pronounced in individuals with pre-existing conditions, older people, and children.

Improve the Air Quality in Your Home

Improving indoor air quality is a key preventive measure to ensure your health. Here are five practical tips:

1. Regular cleaning: Dust and vacuum your home frequently to remove particulates and irritants.
2. Proper ventilation: Ensure your home is well-ventilated, use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and open windows when outdoor air quality permits.
3. Use air purifiers: Air purifiers, especially those with HEPA filters, can filter out many pollutants.
4. Monitor humidity levels: High humidity levels can encourage the growth of mold and dust mites, which lower indoor air quality. Keep the humidity between 30% to 50%.
5. Keep green plants: Some indoor plants can improve air quality by absorbing certain toxins.

Choose Metro Heating & Cooling for Better Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

Metro Heating & Cooling is dedicated to improving your home’s air quality in Fenton, MO. Our certified, insured team is available for fast, same-day service, including emergency repairs. We work on all makes and models and provide free estimates on new systems. With our expertise, we can help you breathe easier in your home.

Call us at (314) 845-5900 today to learn more about our air quality solutions.