Ideas to Make Your Winter IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) More Comfortable
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside most homes is much more polluted than the air outside. The same factors that keep your home energy efficient in the winter can make indoor air pollution worse.
Common causes of poor indoor air quality IAQ
Indoor air pollution can come from gas-powered appliances or from a wood-burning fireplace. It can also come from cleaning products, air fresheners, pet dander and dust mites. Sealing your home against cold drafts prevents fresh air from diffusing indoor pollutants, making them more likely to affect your health.
Effects of poor indoor air quality IAQ
Indoor air pollution can cause the obvious congestion or a runny nose, but it can also cause headaches, fatigue and dizziness. These symptoms are often harder to pinpoint, and people experiencing them may have trouble determining the cause.
How to improve your indoor air quality IAQ
Stopping pollution at its source is one way to improve indoor air quality. Making sure appliances work properly, avoiding using a wood-burning fireplace and refraining from performing home-improvement projects in the winter can prevent toxic chemicals from entering your environment.
One of the best ways to improve indoor air quality is to increase the amount of fresh air introduced into the home. A home’s HVAC system, which draws in fresh air, may not function efficiently if there have been any maintenance, service or installation problems. In addition, contaminants such as bird droppings or exhaust blowing near the intake of your HVAC system could force harmful pollutants into your home. Open the windows or doors on a nice day, even if only for 15 minutes.
It is also important to keep indoor air clean. Change your HVAC air filters regularly; avoid letting dust and lint build up on them. Many houseplants can absorb pollutants from the air and create more oxygen in your environment. Dust and vacuum frequently, change your bedding often and use nontoxic cleaning supplies to improve indoor air quality and stay healthy.
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