How to Improve Indoor Air Quality at Home

Daily life can significantly change, for better or worse, due to indoor air quality. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde, mold, and other common indoor pollutants can lead to persistent allergic or asthmatic reactions. It can even worsen pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

You can take several steps to enhance your indoor air quality (IAQ) near Atlanta, GA. Find out what’s behind poor air quality and effective ways to breathe better!

The Two Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution results from manufactured and natural compounds. The most common causes of indoor air pollution are:

Natural air pollutants including dust, mold, pollen, mildew, pet dander, and radon. Radon is a gas emitted from the soil that sometimes makes its way into homes. It is behind approximately21,000 annual lung cancer deaths in the US.
Human-caused chemical pollutants include formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide. These chemicals can come from upholstery, treated plastics, paint, cleaning chemicals, or combustion in gas-powered appliances.

These compounds are very common. At low levels, they are less likely to harm your health. However, at high levels of concentration, they pose significant risks to human health.

What Are the Symptoms of Bad Indoor Air Quality?

Health experts warn about poor indoor air quality's short- and long-term effects. The most common signs of inadequate indoor air quality include:

Respiratory issues such as congestion, difficulty breathing, and coughing or sneezing
Eye, nose, and throat irritation and dryness, including nosebleeds
Irritability and difficulty concentrating
Nausea

Typically, these symptoms tend to fade away once you leave home. However, if you are exposed for an extended period, the effects can intensify, causing the discomfort to linger even when you aren’t at home.

Three Effective Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality on a Budget

Enhancing the air quality inside your home is an achievable goal. By identifying and tackling the sources of indoor air pollution, you can transform your living space into a refreshing and healthy sanctuary. Here are a few targeted strategies to eliminate harmful pollutants indoors.

1. Tackle the Root Causes

Keep indoor dust and allergens low by cleaning your house frequently. Dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping all help! If you have allergies, you may need to dust and sweep daily when pollen levels are high. Consider keeping your windows shut during allergy season; if this proves too difficult in the Atlanta area, due to the long season, at least shut the windows during the afternoon when pollen is extra-concentrated.

Also, don’t allow smoking in your home, as this counteracts cleaning efforts. When you use your kitchen and bathroom, turn on the exhaust fans to mitigate smoke and humidity.

2. Keep Humidity in Check

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends maintaining indoor humidity levelsbetween 30% and 50% year-round to minimize mold and mildew growth, keep dust mite populations in check, and prevent wear and tear on the house. It’s also the optimal humidity range for the comfort of the whole household, including pets.

3. Use Your Heating and Cooling Equipment

A well-maintained HVAC system is one of your best tools to create healthier air quality. The key is using your AC and heat frequently to promote airflow and ideal humidity.

Make sure your HVAC system is up to the task by replacing your air filter every 1-3 months. If you have family members with underlying health conditions, or if you have pets, you may need to replace your filter on the more frequent end of that time range. Finally, have your system inspected annually, and don’t forget duct cleaning services.

Can Indoor Plants Improve Air Quality?

Houseplants can improve indoor air quality by removing harmful chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, research shows that, to see a real difference, you would need a lot of plants—about 1,000 plants for every square meter. If you actually want space in your rooms to live in, there are better ways to improve IAQ!

Atlanta’s Indoor Air Quality Pros

Improving indoor air quality is a critical part of maintaining a happy, healthy home. For cost-effective IAQ upgrades, trust the experienced technicians at Assured Comfort Heating, Air & Plumbing. We’ll make sure your HVAC system is doing its part to provide clean, fresh air all year long.

Call 770-464-5745 orcontact us online to schedule HVAC, electrical, or plumbing services in Douglasville, Atlanta, and the surrounding areas.