We all worry about the well-being of our families. There are things in life that we cannot control, but then there are things we can. Indoor air pollution is something you can control. Indoor air quality describes how inside air can affect a person’s health, comfort and ability to work. It can include humidity, temperature, poor ventilation, mold from water damage or exposure to chemicals.

Facts About Indoor Air Quality

• Because the average American breathes 3,400 gallons of air every day, air pollution can be a major problem
• 87% of American homeowners are unaware that pollution may be worse inside their homes than outdoors
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists indoor air quality as one of the top five risks to environmental health
• Common indoor ai pollutants include dust mites, pollen, radon, mold, carbon monoxide, increased levels of carbon dioxide and other chemicals
• Air pollution can lead to lung disease, asthma, respiratory tract infections and lung cancer

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

The EPA recommends three methods to improve indoor air quality: source control, ventilation and air cleaning.
Source control. Cutting off pollution at its source is usually the best way to deal with pollution, but some sources are easier to control than others. An obvious source to control is tobacco smoke as it can cause health problems for the smokers and those around them. If you can’t quit, then decide to make smoking an outdoor activity. Have the air in your home tested for pollutants, keep the humidity levels in your home low to combat mold, mildew and pest problems. Use cleaning products as directed to reduce pollutants in the home and solid wood furniture is also better than pressed wood that can emit formaldehyde into the air.
Ventilation. Improving ventilation in the home is another great way to improve indoor air quality. Bringing fresh air into the home gets rid of contaminated air. When the weather is nice, open the windows, use the ventilators in your kitchen and bathrooms and turn fans on to circulate air. When immediate ventilation is needed, open the closest window and turn fans on to push unhealthy fumes out of the house. Do this when you’re using pesticides and/or cleaning products.
Air cleaning. Even when these steps have been taken, you may still have air pollution in your home. It’s almost impossible to eliminate all sources of indoor air pollution. This is where air cleaning comes in. Air filters work to eliminate or reduce the pollution in your home. Air purifiers can be very effective and need to be based on two things. How effective it is at removing harmful air in your home and how much air it can pull into the system to remove the number of toxins in the air. Air filters will work wonders in improving air quality and can leave you home much cleaner than without one.

HVAC Services in Springfield, Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Monson Chicopee & Agawam Massachusetts

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, improper maintenance of residential HVAC systems is one of the most common causes of poor indoor air quality. Having a routine heating tune up in the fall and AC tune up in the spring can ensure your system has adequate air flow, filtration and ventilation to prevent contaminants from being trapped inside your home. It’s important to keep the air in your home as clean as possible. Contact Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning to help you with any of the steps involved in improving the air quality in your home.