Whether you have asthma or simply want cleaner air, there are a few simple ways you can improve the air quality in your home. Even in the cleanest house, the air can contain allergens, mold spores, and chemicals. Unfortunately, these hazards can linger in the air and continue harming your family’s health.
Luckily, there are indoor air quality (IAQ) products that can clean the air. You can purchase an IAQ test and see what the air is like in your home. If there is an issue, you can easily install a purifier to remove harmful contaminants.
Why Monitoring Indoor Air Quality Is Important
Throughout the world, indoor air quality is a major issue. Whether you have short-term or long-term exposure to indoor pollution, you may develop a variety of different health problems. Indoor air pollution can contribute to cognitive issues, respiratory diseases, cancer, and heart disease with long-term exposure.
Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can typically be updated with filters that can remove harmful contaminants from the air. Through an improved HVAC system, you can achieve the following goals.
Limit Mold and Bacteria
Humid environments are more likely to develop mold and bacteria. These issues can lead to respiratory disease, allergies, and asthma. With a monitoring system, you can detect higher humidity levels and prevent elevated moisture from causing mold and bacteria to grow.
Reduce Particulate Matter (PM)
Wildfire smoke, vehicle exhaust, and construction activities can release microscopic particles into the air. If you’re exposed to a high level of PM, you can develop cardiovascular disease and respiratory problems. Like mold, there are easy ways to test for high PM levels. Local governments will often release daily PM levels in each region.
Decrease Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs can be found in paint, adhesives, cleaning products, and building supplies. They are released into the air and can cause moderate to severe respiratory problems. Fortunately, there are ways to filter VOCs out of the air.
Prevent Humidity, Heat, and Comfort Issues
Indoor air quality is important for more than just your health. It also impacts how comfortable you are. When the IAQ is poor, you are more likely to have concentration issues, headaches, and fatigue. This can reduce your overall productivity.
High carbon dioxide levels and poor ventilation can harm your comfort and productivity. With a well-maintained HVAC system, you can decrease particulate matter, humidity, and heat for a more comfortable indoor environment.
How to Monitor Indoor Air Quality at Home
To ensure better air quality in your home, there are a few tests you can do. There is no single test for indoor air quality, so you may need to perform more than one test. If you want to monitor your air quality on an ongoing basis, you should install air quality monitors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Use Air Quality Monitors
One of the best ways to monitor air quality is to install air quality monitors. Many contaminants are odorless, so you can’t simply smell the air to see if they are present. An indoor air quality monitor can detect harmful toxins through state-of-the-art electrochemical sensors.
Smart monitors are able to detect toxins and estimate the quantity of particulates hourly. Then, they can send this information to a connected device. You can purchase smart monitors that test for VOCs, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, formaldehyde, and radon.
Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Every household should come with carbon monoxide detectors. These detectors can tell if your gas stove or another gas appliance is leaking harmful gas into your home. Typically, homeowners will install these detectors in their major hallways and garage. You should also put one in every room that has a gas appliance.
Test Your Home for Radon
Radon is known as a dangerous carcinogen, so it can eventually cause cancer if you are exposed to enough of it. Before you buy a house, you should always get a radon test done. This chemical is especially common in older homes and homes with basements.
Perform a Mold Test
Mold can worsen allergies and asthma, but there are convenient tests you can use to detect it. Normally, you can buy mold tests online or in local shops. These tests are generally designed with swabs or strips. Swabs can immediately detect the presence of mold spores on surfaces in your home. Meanwhile, strip tests get mailed to a lab for more accurate results.
If you hire a professional, they’ll do an air pump mold test. This is an especially accurate way to see what type of mold is present. Normally, you’ll get a professional test done after you have already done a basic test and need more detailed information.
Get Professional Testing
You don’t have to test your indoor air quality yourself. At Honest Air Conditioning, we help Mesa residents test their air for a range of chemical vapors, viruses, bacteria, mold spores, and allergens. Afterward, we can help you find and install the right scrubber, purifier, or filter for your home.
Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Once you know your home has an air quality problem, the next step is figuring out how to deal with it. There are a few simple ways you can improve the air quality in your home.
Change Your Air Filter
Most HVAC systems require you to clean or change your air filter every month. Some systems let you go up to three months between cleaning the filter, so you should read through the manufacturer’s specifications. Cleaning the filter is important because a clogged filter will have a harder time removing contaminants from the air.
Get an Air Purifier
Air purifiers can remove airborne contaminants. Depending on the size of your home and your air quality concerns, there are different types of air purifiers that you can buy. In general, they function by pulling air through filters that can trap pollutants.
Vacuum on a Frequent Basis
Over time, dirt, mold, and allergens can settle on the carpet and flooring in your home. By vacuuming on a frequent basis, you can decrease the number of contaminants in your home.
Open Your Windows
Before you open your windows, check local air quality monitors to see how clean the outdoor air is. On good days, you should open your windows to help indoor pollutants escape. Open windows can also circulate air and prevent mold growth.
Start Your Exhaust Fans
Your home is most likely equipped with exhaust fans above your stove and in your bathrooms. Bathroom fans should be turned on to remove excess humidity from the air. Meanwhile, the exhaust fan above your stove is crucial for getting rid of combustion byproducts. The stove’s exhaust fan is especially important if you use natural gas because this type of fuel is known to release pollutants into the air.
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality
Harmful contaminants, allergens, and mold can end up impacting your family’s health. With the help of Honest Air Conditioning, you can remove these contaminants and clean the air in your home. We can help with IAQ testing, air filtration, and HVAC products. To learn more, contact our team today.