How To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality And Why It Matters

The average person inhales about 15,000 quarts of air per day, and spends nearly 90 percent of their time indoors (even more these days in the midst of the pandemic!). That’s important information to keep in mind, considering that:

• Indoor air can be two to 100 times more polluted than outside air – VOCs, mold, pollen, pet dander, radon, and other contaminants can accumulate inside today’s increasingly sealed homes.
• Polluted Indoor air can be dangerous– Poor indoor air quality can worsen asthma and other chronic respiratory problems and cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue.
• Sources of pollution are all around you – Common sources include emissions from combustion appliances, outgassing from construction materials, chemicals in cleaning and personal care products, outdoor air pollutants such as radon and pesticides, and indoor pollutants such as pet dander, dust mites, and mold.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why the U.S. Department of Health considers indoor air quality one of our most pressing healthy issues!

5 Ways To Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

The good news is that by taking some simple precautions and making smarter buying choices, you can greatly improve air quality in your North Shore home. Here are five suggestions:

1. Replace toxic cleaning products with natural, organic alternatives – Shop wisely for home cleaning products – or make your own – vinegar and baking soda are great natural cleaning agents that cut grease, clean drains, kill germs, and more.
2. Choose healthier materials for remodeling projects – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paint can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment. You’ll pay a little more for low-Voc paint, but it’s a much healthier alternative. Look for mold resistant materials, too.
3. Add greenery – Plants absorb toxic chemicals through their leaves. Plant roots and soil bacteria also remove trace levels of toxic vapors. They look great, too!
4. Maintain your HVAC system – Sign up for a Service Plan to keep your HVAC system working properly and moving air freely. Also consider investing in a duct cleaning to remove allergens and mold.
5. Consider installing whole-house indoor air quality solutions – A whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier will keep air at healthy moisture levels to discourage mold and mildew growth, while other whole house purification systems can tackle mold spores, bacteria, and other particulates in the air.

Breathe easier with indoor air quality solutions from Lombardi Energy & Gas. Contact us today to learn more about IAQ equipment installations in Northeastern Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire!