People tend to not see the problem until its staring them right in the face and the consequences reach unbearable stages. It is a common impression that bad air is only smokestacks coming out of industrial chimneys, sticking to metropolis areas and that acid rain is maybe a sub-genre of jazz music.
Whatever the danger, we feel that after closing the door to our homes we are as safe as can be. Well, sorry to burst the bubble, but certified experts on health, climate, and the environment all agree that indoor air is even worse than outside air.
Why the reversal?
The most commonly known air pollutants are things we see outside, like the mentioned industrial smoke, traffic gasses, and stuff like that our proud civilization brought upon this planet. Industry, transportation, and all technological discoveries were necessary and have pushed us forward as a society, but we do not spend enough effort to try and make it less contaminating for the world.
And, you know why? No money in that business, as a wise man once said (George Carlin – Save the Planet)
Well, what’s an honest guy gonna do?
Fight the whole world and protest? An honorable initiative for sure, but in this crazy age, it has become a luxury. Most of us are buried in our work and forced to struggle, while the very air we breathe, our primary nutrient and sustainment, is growing fouler.
And, that’s where the problems really begin, because all those scientists and experts also found undisputed evidence that bad air reduces our performance significantly, in every way. Concentration will power, strength, endurance, cognitive function, etc…
In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration managed to calculate that all these problems, which inevitably lead to loss of work due to reduced productivity and illness, cost the U.S. around $150B annually! That’s one hundred and fifty billion dollars just gone because we breathe air that is sub-standard quality, filled with pollutants, and that’s the United States alone.
This goes for both outdoor and even more so for indoor air, not just in the workplace but in our homes as well. Various initiatives all around the world are springing up, trying to fight this left and right, and we’ve found some low-tech and low-cost or free ways that you can yous to improve the air quality in your home. At least catch your breath there.
IMPROVE YOUR HOME’S INDOOR AIR QUALITY
There are a few simple, low-cost, and sometimes free methods you can use to improve your home’s indoor air quality quickly. Some of them are really basic, but you may not have tried them or you may think they won’t help. When, in truth, every bit of the following will help at least a little bit…
- Changing the Filters
- Cleaning Air Ducts
- Installing Cooking Ventilation
- Controlling Indoor Humidity
- Indoor Plant Life
- Keeping the Carpet Clean
- Changing the Filters
Air Conditioners are almost constantly working. Colling when it’s hot, warming when it’s cold, and cleaning indoor air on the go. People mostly turn them off at night or they set the auto on/off, but they do wear down.
The point is, the air is cycling through them for the better part of the day and the filter needs to be changed regularly. If you use a service plan from some of the providers, then they probably have a regular schedule for changing the filters. But, if not, it may be time to call the repairman.
Many other household appliances use air and subsequently have air filtration systems. Many of which you can change or clean yourself, like in your vacuum cleaner, other ventilation shafts is you have them, kitchen respirators, heaters, fans, etc… All these devices should be inspected, cleaned, and maintained regularly.
Cleaning Air Ducts
Okay, this is a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Think about spy movies… Someone always neglects air ducts and the protagonist takes advantage. So should you, or at least call a repairman, because if you have air ducts in your house or building, they get clogged and dirty really quickly.
You may be surprised what may be found in air ducts that were not cleaned for some time. Nothing good, that’s for sure. Removing potential pollutants like mold, fungus, webbing, insect nests, and other things will go a long away to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
Installing Cooking Ventilation
If you do not use cooking ventilation, it’s the way to go for air improvement. Especially if you use gas stoves, but even electrical burners produce some levels of air pollutants. Many more particles are released into the air during cooking, including nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Which are both toxic to humans, animals, and plants.
Controlling Indoor Humidity
People who have had a problem with mildew and mold have tasted the hard side of life. Not only is mold persistent and damages walls, fiber, and other materials, both mildew and mold cause asthma, and allergies. And, that’s just two of them. Using dehumidifiers may immediately fix this problem significantly.
Indoor Plant Life
Keeping plants in your home can make it beautiful, but it can also clean your air supply. Provided plants do release CO2 at night, but they do so far less compared to pets and humans. And, you don’t have to keep them in the bedroom, just a few well-placed plants around the house can go a long way.
Keeping the Carpet Clean
Who would have known a carpet is an air cleaner? But, it’s true. They capture dust and many smaller particles in the air and keep them within their fibers, thus removing them from the game. However, you need to keep them regularly clean, vacuumed, and washed.
Thanks for reading!
Author’s Bio
James Watson is a part of the Content and Marketing team at Eliteheatingandac.com.
