Try These Simple Strategies to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality
When we think about air pollution, we usually talk about an outdoor problem and something we can get rid of when we are indoors, especially in our own homes. But this is not the case. Some sources of air pollution, such as pet dander and dust mites, come from our homes. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce indoor pollution and help everyone breathe a little easier. Here are some strategies to consider.
Keep allergens out of your bedroom
Like humans, dust mites, a common allergen, are fairly comfortable in bed. To prevent them from settling there, Jenny Bergman, Senior Indoor Environment Manager at Trane Residential, recommends covering mattresses, pillows and boxspring mattresses with covers and washing bedding in hot water at least once a week. “The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends using a washing machine at 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and hot drying your bedding to kill dust mites,” she tells Lifehacker.
Use controlled ventilation
When sources of indoor air pollutants cannot be completely eliminated, Bergman suggests introducing clean, fresh air into the environment and directing stagnant and polluted air back outside. Opening a window is one way to do this, but it also gives outdoor allergens or asthma triggers a way to enter your home.
If your family is concerned about this, you may want to consider getting a little mechanical assistance. “The best way to get fresh air into your home is to keep windows and doors closed and use a mechanical filter fan to bring in fresh air and move stale and dirty air outside,” says Bergman.
If you’ve decided to purchase a portable air purifier to combat pollen and other household allergens, it’s important to do a little research before purchasing. For example, Kenneth Mendes, President and CEO of the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA), told Lifehacker that some air purifiers on the market have purification functions that can produce ozone, which itself is an air pollutant and an asthma trigger, as a by-product. … … Devices marked “Certified Safe for Asthma and Allergy Sufferers ” have been tested to be free of harmful ozone levels.
Balance the humidity in your home
Keeping your home humidity levels between 35 and 60 percent is a key component of indoor air quality, Bergman says.
“Mold, dust mites and other air pollutants tend to thrive outside of this range, and our body’s natural immune systems can survive when the air gets too dry,” she explains. At the same time, you do not need too humid air, because it can cause other problems such as warping or cracking of wooden furniture and floors.
While it is possible to reduce the humidity in your home by turning on the air conditioner, this is usually not a year-round solution. “The best way to control humidity in your home is to control the humidity level with a reliable HVAC thermostat and control it with a dehumidifier and / or humidifier in your home,” explains Bergman.
If you rent your home or don’t have the financial position to install a central heating, ventilation and air conditioning system that monitors and regulates humidity, monobloc humidifiers and dehumidifiers are a good option.
Stay up to date with HVAC maintenance
There is so much to do to keep your home running that certain tasks, such as cleaning air filters and vents, can go unnoticed.
“Homeowners often forget to replace filters in all of their units with removable filters and to clean vents on HVAC systems, including stoves, air conditioners, air conditioners, humidifiers or purifiers,” explains Bergman, noting that dirty filters restrict air flow. … forcing your HVAC system to work harder and reducing its efficiency.
To keep everything running smoothly, she recommends changing the air filters every three months and regularly cleaning the HVAC vents.