When you think of pollution your mind likely conjures images of smokestacks and a yellowish haze looming over a large metropolitan area. While unhealthy outdoor air is a problem that isn’t going away anytime soon, the reality is that the air inside most people’s homes is far more polluted. Add to that fact that people today tend to spend much more time indoors than they did in the past and you’ve got a potential recipe for disaster. The good news is that with a few relatively simple steps you can improve your indoor air quality. Learn more about indoor air pollution and what you can do to freshen the air in your home today.
Health Effects of Poor Inside Air
You may experience the ill effects of low-quality air in your home soon after exposure, or it could take years for symptoms to appear. The severity of symptoms depends on age, duration of exposure and an individual’s sensitivity to the sources of pollution. Mild reactions can bring on flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and irritation of the skin, eyes and throat. In most cases, such reactions will disappear soon after treatment. More serious cases can become fatal, triggering health issues like cancer, heart disease or respiratory diseases.
Improving Your Indoor Air Quality
- Change your air filters frequently. This will help the filters effectively do their job of cleaning up pollutants from your breathing environment. Best practice is to check them once a month.
- Keep humidity levels in check. Humidity in your home can have a direct impact on the concentrations of certain pollutants. Humidity levels should remain between 30 and 50 percent. Use a humidifier or vaporizer to raise levels. Open windows (when possible) or turn on your A/C to lower levels.
- Control emissions at the source. Reduce indoor concentrations by opening windows on nice days or using your A/C with the vent open. Use your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. When possible, remove individual sources from your home.
Do you need a contractor in the Mobile area to help you improve your indoor air quality? Please feel free to contact us at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc.
