The Best Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

The air quality in your home significantly impacts your daily life. Breathing in indoor air pollutants, such as formaldehyde and mold, can trigger allergies and asthma and may lead to respiratory and heart problems.

A few simple steps can enhance the indoor air quality (IAQ) in your Kissimmee home. By following these IAQ tips, you can lower your risk of health issues and create a more comfortable and healthier living space.

What Are the Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Both manufactured and natural compounds cause indoor air pollution. The most common sources of indoor air pollution include:

• Natural air pollutants including pollen, pet dander, dust, mold, mildew, and radon. Radon is a natural gas emitted from the soil that sometimes seeps into homes through cracks. It is estimated to cause an estimated21,000 lung cancer deaths in the US annually.
• Airborne chemical pollutants like formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide. These chemicals are often emitted from furniture, paint, cleaning chemicals, or combustion (gas-powered appliances, fireplaces, and more).

These compounds are very common, and they aren’t likely to negatively impact your health at low levels. However, as the concentrations of these particles increase, they pose significant risks to human health.

Common Symptoms of Bad Indoor Air Quality

Health experts warn against the short and long-term effects of poor indoor air quality. The most common signs of poor IAQ include:

• Respiratory issues, including runny nose, sinus congestion, cough, difficulty breathing, and sneezing.
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation, including watery or dry eyes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea
• Irritability
• Nosebleeds

In most cases, these symptoms will improve after leaving home. However, long-term daily exposure may worsen symptoms, preventing complete relief.

Read more: What Does Spring Mean for your Indoor Air Quality?

Three Effective Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality on a Budget

Addressing bad indoor air quality is relatively straightforward. By addressing indoor air pollution sources, homeowners can quickly enhance their breathing environment!

1. Tackle the Root Causes

It's important to regularly dust, vacuum, and clean your living spaces to maintain low levels of indoor dust and allergens, such as tree pollen. If you suffer from allergies, you may need to dust and sweep daily during periods of high pollen. Additionally, consider keeping your windows closed during allergy season, particularly in the afternoon, when pollen levels peak. It's also advisable not to allow smoking in your home.

2. Maintain Healthy Humidity Levels

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends maintaining indoor humidity levelsbetween 30% and 50% year-round. Optimal humidity levels will prevent mold and mildew growth, keep dust mite populations in check, and keep you more comfortable inside your home.

3. Use Your HVAC System

A well-maintained HVAC system is essential for healthy indoor air quality. Using your heating and cooling system promotes airflow, regulates humidity, and filters out airborne particles.

To keep your HVAC system effective, replace the air filter every one to three months. If you have pets or household members with underlying health conditions, you may want to replace the filter more often. Additionally, schedule an annual inspection for your system to ensure it operates at its best.

Can Indoor Plants Improve Air Quality?

Yes and no. Viral blog posts and news articles previously claimed that certain types of houseplants can improve indoor air quality—to a point. More recent studies have found that while plants can remove VOCs from the air, it would take an incredible number of plants to have a measurable impact in real-world conditions. A meta-analysis of these studies found it would take roughly 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to clean indoor air – that’s approximately680 plants in a 1,500-square-foot home.

Contact Kissimmee’s IAQ Experts

There’s no better investment than in your health—and your home. For expert indoor air quality services, Central Florida families turn to Ace Solves It All. The experienced technicians at Ace Solves It All have the skills and resources to recommend and install IAQ upgrades that benefit you and your family. We’re only a call or click away.

Call 407-499-8006 orcontact us online to schedule HVAC, electrical, indoor air quality, or plumbing services in Kissimmee, Lakeland, and the surrounding areas.