Indoor air quality is a major concern for homeowners, especially those with asthma or allergies. The air inside your home should be clean and healthy, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. There are some simple ways you can improve your indoor air quality and make your home safer for you and your family.
Poor indoor air quality is harmful for your health so it’s important to take steps to improve it.
Poor indoor air quality can cause health problems. The EPA says that the most common symptoms of poor indoor air quality are:
- Eye irritation, such as watery eyes or burning eyes
- Nasal irritation, including runny nose, sneezing and congestion
- Respiratory problems such as coughing or wheezing
A common source of indoor air pollution is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are found in many household products.
Another common source of indoor air pollution is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are found in many household products. VOCs are a group of chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and can be released into the air as you use them. They include things like cleaning products, paints, perfumes and even personal care products like shampoo or lotion.
Some experts think that exposure to these chemicals may be linked to asthma and other health problems such as headaches or fatigue. The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure:
- Change the way you clean. Instead of using cleaning products with strong fragrances or aerosol sprays, try natural alternatives like baking soda and vinegar.
- Use less personal care products. If you want to use fragrance in your home, opt for low-VOC brands or those made with essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances.
- Check out the EPA’s guide to identifying greener cleaning products.
Building materials in a home are another common source of VOCs.
A big source of VOCs in your home is building materials. These are the products that make up your walls, floors, ceiling, and other surfaces.
VOCs can also be released from paints and adhesives used to apply these materials.
Another reason for poor indoor air quality is the use of synthetic furnishing and carpeting.
Another reason for poor indoor air quality is the use of synthetic furnishings and carpeting. Synthetic materials can trap irritants, allergens and dust mites, which are then released into the air when they are disturbed (for example by vacuuming). They can also emit VOCs when they come in contact with moisture. VOCs are released from pressed wood products like particle board furniture or plywood wall panels that have been treated with flame retardants (the type of flame retardant used in these products has been linked to health problems such as cancer).
Other causes of poor indoor air quality include household dust, pet dander, and mold.
Household dust can be a problem for people with allergies or asthma because it can cause inflammation of the airways and make breathing difficult. The skin may also become irritated from contact with the particles in household dust.
Household pets such as cats and dogs produce dander—tiny flakes of skin that act as allergens. When you breathe in these allergens through your nose or mouth they can trigger an allergic reaction in your body such as sneezing or coughing, runny nose or itchy eyes.
Inadequate ventilation makes indoor air quality worse by trapping irritants inside.
Inadequate ventilation makes indoor air quality worse by trapping irritants inside.
Ventilation systems also help remove moisture from the air, which can lead to mold growth if left unchecked, further increasing the poor air quality.
Indoor air pollution can be reduced through various methods.
There are several ways to reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.
- Choose furniture and fixtures made of natural materials such as bamboo, other wood, or stone.
- Provide adequate ventilation by opening windows or using fans to circulate fresh air from outside into your home.
- Remove irritants from the air by using filters.
- Replace carpeting with hardwood floors.
- Replace synthetic fibers in bedding with cotton.
- Check older paint for lead and have it professionally removed if necessary.
- Change out cleaning products with gentler alternatives such as vinegar or baking soda.
The best way to have good indoor air is to build right from the start. Our Green Homes are built for good indoor air quality.
At Manchester Green Homes, our homes are designed and constructed with a focus on reducing VOCs released into the home, as well as providing fresh-air ventilation by means of a mechanical exhaust system that removes stale air from your house through an outside vent or roof exhaust fan.
It is important to have good indoor air quality. If you have a Green Home, then you know that it has been built with this in mind from the start. The certification process requires builders to follow stringent guidelines and use non-toxic materials so that they won’t release any harmful pollutants into your home environment while also saving resources such as water or energy usage over time.