The Environmental Protection Agency warns that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is a top environmental health risk in the U.S. Many Americans spend 90% of their time indoors where the concentration of pollutants is often several times higher than outdoors. Tighter and more energy-efficient building envelopes further exacerbates the problem.
Air Pollutants in the Home
There are many air pollutants commonly found in the home. Household allergens include dust, dust mites, pollen, textile fibers, mold spores, and so much more. There is the potential for radon, which is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Another top concern is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can damage livers and kidneys. People often inadvertently introduce VOCs through the cleaning agents they use and the home furnishings they choose.
Where the Pollutants Are
Air pollution contains not only large particles but fine and ultrafine particles. Particles can remain airborne for several hours. They can linger longer because of central HVAC, which also disperses the particles throughout a home. The EPA recommends deep dusting your home at least once a week and using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. It will curb the amount of airborne dust in your home.
Where the Pollutants Are
Air pollution contains not only allergens but fine and ultrafine particles, which can remain airborne for several hours. The forced air from a central HVAC system can cause them to linger longer and helps to disperse them throughout a home. The EPA recommends deep dusting your home at least once a week and vacuuming with a unit that has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
The Risks of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air pollution causes short-term health risks, including respiratory inflammation and heightened allergy and asthma symptoms. It can disrupt sleep and cause headaches and chronic fatigue. Modern medicine links long-term exposure to a wide range of serious cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.
How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) warns that there is a connection between IAQ and your home’s ducts. Even with regular tune-ups and filter changes, dust will build up in your ducts over time. The dust that settles in your ducts absorbs other pollutants and continues to rerelease them into your air over time.
The NADCA advises professional duct cleaning as the solution to this problem. Duct cleaning involves using industrial vacuum and filtration systems to remove the accumulation from your ducts. Your air duct cleaning team will seal your vents and create negative air pressure in the ductwork. Doing so will ensure that dust or other debris does not flow into the home.
Final Thoughts
There are other options to achieve and maintain good IAQ, including season maintenance for your HVAC system. The EPA recommends a relative humidity (RH) between 30% and 50%, which may require a whole-house dehumidifier and humidifier. You can also invest in a whole-house air purifier, which will neutralize allergens, particulate matter, gases, and airborne chemicals, and UV lamps, which will neutralize viruses and bacteria.