Even though you maintain high standards of cleanliness in your home, the stale air trapped inside could be making you sick. In our Gulf Coast area, where we keep the home closed up for a good part of the year with the air conditioner on, indoor air pollution can contribute to allergies and respiratory problems.
Airtight Home=Poor Indoor Air
Without proper ventilation, your home is likely the site of a buildup of potent airborne pollutants. Modern home construction, designed to be airtight for efficiency, traps particles from these sources:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassed by textiles, carpets, dry cleaning, pressed wood and household chemicals
- Pollen
- Dust
- Dust mites
- Decaying insects
- Pet dander
- Mold spores
Improving Air Quality
The best way to improve indoor air quality is to control pollutants. Take the following steps:
- Remove shoes at the door to control dust.
- Brush pollen off clothes at the door, or change clothes. Move pollen-bearing indoor plants to one room; keep the door closed.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture, carpets and rugs often with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate) air filter to remove dust, pet dander, pollen and dust mites.
- Dust with a damp or microstatic cloth.
- Brush pets outdoors to control dander.
- Control mold by ventilating the bathroom and kitchen and fixing roof and plumbing leaks right away.
- Air out dry-cleaned clothing, textiles, rugs and pressed-wood products before bringing them into the home.
- Tightly cap all household chemicals; keep them stored in a cabinet or the garage.
- Wash linens regularly in hot water to control dust mites.
If your home is damp and mold is a problem, install exhaust ventilation to the outdoors in the bathrooms and kitchen. You might also look into additional ventilation to remove stale air and supply fresh air to the home. Change your HVAC filter regularly.
If your home has worse-than-average indoor air quality, look into installing a whole-home air purifier.
To learn more about indoor air pollution, contact Bradbury Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve The Woodlands, Conroe, Montgomery and the surrounding area.
