Finding a good indoor air quality (IAQ) solution is crucial for your health and comfort. Poor air quality can lead to some health issues such as respiratory issues, allergies, and other health concerns. Therefore, it is crucial to address indoor air quality issues effectively, especially now that growing public awareness and recent news reports have highlighted how poor air quality can contribute significantly to respiratory health problems. What are indoor air quality solutions? First, we have to have a correct understanding of what indoor air quality solutions are. Indoor air quality solutions include how we can improve ventilation, use air purifiers, and install a filtration system in our HVAC system.
Improving ventilation can be done by opening interior doors, using bathroom and kitchen fans, opening windows and doors when conditions permit, keeping furniture away from heating vents and baseboards, and also using a mechanical HVAC system with a filtration system.
We can also use air purifiers with advanced filters, UV purifiers, media air cleaners, or electronic air cleaners. Another type is using whole-home air purifiers. Installing a filtration system can be done by installing a filtration system with UV lights in your furnace, replacing or cleaning the filter as per the manufacturer’s instructions, and using an indoor air quality monitor to measure air quality at home.
We can also use a monitor to determine sources of indoor air pollutants in order to determine the quality of our air in our home. Poor IAQ can lead to some health issues, giving immediate or long-term effects to our health. Implementing indoor air quality solutions can have an effect on protecting spaces and occupants, ensuring building safety, and maintaining public health.
Finding the right indoor air quality solutions for your home needs a combination of some issues, namely identifying problems, understanding available technologies, and implementing strategies that suit your needs.
Contents
Identify Your Air Quality Concerns
Before exploring solutions, pinpoint the specific issues affecting your indoor air. There are common problems in this aspect, including dust and allergens, high humidity levels, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Dust and allergens can be triggered by pet dander, pollen, or mold. So, we have to identify if there are any causes of these triggers at our house. Also with its quantity. High humidity levels can lead to mold growth and a damp environment. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are released from household products like paints, cleaners, and furniture.
We also may identify which products in our household currently exist and lead to decreased indoor air quality. We can also identify whether there is poor ventilation in our HVAC system. It can lead to stale air and increase pollutant buildup. By understanding the root cause, these will help us select the most effective tools and techniques.
Select the Proper Air Purification System
There are various types of modern air purification systems. It functions to target specific pollutants. Some popular options are HEPA filters, activated carbon filters, UV-C light systems, and ionic purifiers. All of which have their own functions and advantages.
HEPA filters are an effective filter to remove dust, pollen, and other particulate matter. Activated carbon filter is an ideal filter for capturing odors, smoke, and VOCs. The UV-C light system is good at removing bacteria, viruses, and mold spores, adding an extra layer of cleanliness. The ionic purifier is best used to charge particles to trap pollutants but may release ozone. Then, it is better to select any necessary type wisely.
Manage Humidity Levels and Improve Ventilation
Having proper indoor humidity levels gives good effects on maintaining good air quality. The ideal humidity level is ranging between 30-50%. For this goal, we can use dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and ventilators.
If we select a dehumidifier, this tool will help reduce excess moisture and prevent mold growth. Then, humidifiers function to add moisture to the air in dry climates or during winter. Ventilation is a tool to ensure proper airflow to prevent dampness and condensation. Having proper ventilation will help flush out stale air and bring in fresh outdoor air.
In this ventilation, we have to pay attention to its components, such as exhaust fans, whole-house ventilation systems, as well as open windows and doors. All of which give effects on the ventilation quality. We should consider exhaust fans, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
These are places where moisture and odors accumulate. Whole-house ventilation systems also require thorough attention since these provide consistent air exchange throughout your home. For short-term and practical ventilation, we can make use of open windows and doors. These are simple and cost-effective solutions for ventilation.
Use Natural Solutions
Having can also be done by incorporating natural methods in order to improve air quality. These are by using houseplants with advantages for creating fresh air in indoor areas. The houseplants are some plants, like snake plants and peace lilies. All of which can absorb toxins and release oxygen. Another way can be by using natural cleaning products. Its use can reduce exposure to harmful chemicals by using eco-friendly cleaners.
To provide a proper indoor air quality solution, it is also necessary for regular maintenance and monitoring of the air quality. Then, we can realize the goals by implementing the steps and procedures.
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