Home Air Quality

Most people are concerned about the quality of the air that they breathe. This is an important concern, since air pollution is a problem in many places in the world. But even if you do your part to cut down on the air pollution outside, you may still be breathing contaminated air on a regular basis.

The truth is that it isn't just the air outside that can be harmful. Although you might assume that the air in your home is clean and safe to breathe, there are many situations where the indoor air is dirty. Breathing this contaminated air can cause health problems such as allergies, asthma flare-ups, headaches, and more if left untreated.

Fortunately, you can help improve the air inside your house significantly. There is no reason why you should have to breathe unclean air inside, and there are steps you can take to make the air indoors better to breathe.

If you suspect that air pollution in your home is causing health problems, consider the following ideas to improve air quality:

• Vacuum, dust, and sweep often. By cleaning up the dust around your home, you can reduce how much of it will eventually get into the air.
• Use and change air filters often. If you have a heating and air conditioning system, you should have an air filter installed that will catch and trap a lot of the particles in the air. Clean or change this filter as often as directed on the filter's instructions to prevent air quality issues.
• Check for mold in areas that could get damp. If you find any mold in your home, get it removed as soon as possible. Mold spores are not only an allergy trigger, but certain types of mold can also cause illness.
• Use an air purifier or filter. These machines are able to remove unwanted pollutants in the air and can improve your home's air quality.
• Make sure your home gets enough ventilation. Allowing air to circulate through your home can reduce the amount of particles that build up indoors.
• Clean up animal hair and dander often to minimize allergy-causing pet dander in the air.
• Don't smoke or use products with harmful chemical fumes inside of your house.

Although there are many potential sources of air pollution in your home, you can successfully reduce harmful effects. If you suspect a serious problem, hire a professional to test your air for you.