Why Indoor Air Quality Matter And How To Improve It

If you’re like the average person, you inhale about 15,000 quarts of air per day and spend nearly 90 percent of your time indoors.

That’s important information to keep in mind, considering that indoor air can be five times more polluted than outside air.

Why does this happen? Well, it starts with the fact that today’s homes are increasingly airtight – the consequence of better building processes and an increased awareness of the benefits of high efficiency heating and cooling.

The second part of the equation is that toxic products have become much more commonplace in the home: from VOC-containing construction materials to chemicals contained in cleaning and personal care products and décor, your space is filled with potentially harmful fumes. Add to that toxic load the outdoor air pollutants that are prevalent today – including radon and pesticides – along with other indoor nasties such as pet dander, dust mites, and mold, and you have a nasty soup that you’re breathing in every day.

Oh, and now throw COVID-19 into the mix, too.

Over time, this bad mix of air and pollutants can cause asthma and other chronic respiratory problems, along with headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue – all of which deplete your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to viruses and other bugs.

Improving Indoor Air Quality: 5 Easy Ways

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

1. Replace toxic cleaning products with natural, organic alternatives – Shop wisely – or make your own – vinegar and baking soda are great natural cleaning agents that cut grease, clean drains, kill germs, and more.
2. Choose low –VOC paint and healthier construction 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 – and consider investing in a duct cleaning (for your furnace) to remove allergens and mold.
5. Install a whole-house UV filter – The air filter in your home’s furnace does a good job with dust, dirt, pollen and pet dander. But filters can’t do anything about chemical or biological contaminants like air-borne viruses, mold, germs, bacteria or volatile organic compounds (VOC). That’s where IAQ equipment like an APCO-X Dual UV Light 24 Volt Technology System comes in.

The APCO-X Dual UV Light combines ultraviolet light with its proprietary EverCarbon™ cells to remove those contaminants and more. You can read more about it here, or fill out this form and one of our equipment professionals will promptly get back to you.

Breathe easier with indoor air quality systems from W.H. Riley & Son – contact us today for a FREE estimate on whole house air purifier installation in southeastern MA!