The air quality inside your home can be 100X worse than the air outside and newer homes can be far worse than older ones says Mike Holmes in October 2009. Newer homes are designed and built more air tight to increase the energy efficiency. The result is that indoor air becomes trapped and the VOC’s ( Volatile Organic Compounds) that off-gas from furniture, building materials, carpets, mould and allergens build. The bad air leads to allergic reactions and health concerns.
There are many things we can do to improve the air quality inside our homes.
Change your furnace filter often and use a HEPA filter that will trap particulates.
Ultraviolet light can be used to kill bacteria, mould and viruses. UVC irradiates and breaks down microorganisms by disrupting their molecular bonds which makes them unable to reproduce and”kills” them.
Plants are another way to help the air quality. The top 5 plants, according to the University of Georgia, are:
- Purple waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternataa)
- English ivy (Hedera Helix)
- Variegated wax plant (Hoya cornosa)
- Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus)
- Purple heart plant (Tradescantia pallida)
Look for natural cleaning products. There are lots of microfibres on the market which use water and the fibres to clean. Ha-Ra products are some of the best I’ve found.
We’ve also added a new product to our line, Home Fresh-N. 2 odour and VOC removing pouches that you can place in closets or around the house
1. Test your Indoor Air Quality.
Heating and cooling systems, cleaning supplies, and other Volatile Organic Compounds products and materials can be regularly evaluated to improve indoor air quality. You may also use a Carbon Monoxide monitor to test CO levels in your home.
2. Improve ventilation.
Take advantage of Spring! Leave windows and doors open. Also remember that using exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms significantly improves ventilation, and helps eliminate moisture and toxic chemicals.
3. Control household humidity levels.
Keeping humidity at the optimum level is important in controlling the growth of toxic mold and other biological contaminants. This can be done by eliminating water leaks and sources of standing water, as well as installing a humidifier.
4. Have your HVAC system cleaned.
Regularly cleaning, servicing and maintaining your HVAC system is crucial for healthy indoor air quality. This will prevent the build-up of dirt, dust and toxic molds, guarantee the efficiency of your HVAC system and decrease energy costs.
5. Be aware of chemicals found in products.
Dramatically improve indoor air quality by replacing toxic and high in Volatile Organic Compounds cleaning products with eco friendly ones.
Did you know that….
- Fresh air is one of the top natural cleaners around. Best part about it is it’s free of chemicals, and costs nothing to use; just open the windows!
- If your furnace’s blower is not cleaned regularly, it can become a breeding ground for dirt, dust mites and toxic molds.
- Your air conditioner drip pan can potentially hold standing water and grow mold, which would then be blown directly into your air ducts and out through the vents of the entire house.
- Condenser coils can rust and contain build-up of corrosion, which is not only harmful to the air quality but also decreases the efficiency of your HVAC system and increases energy costs.
- Avoiding the use of conventional cleaning products isn’t always possible. Remember: keep your house well ventilated when using them, and help preserve your indoor air quality by storing harmful chemicals and volatile compounds (such as paints, solvents, cleaners and pesticides) away from occupied spaces and air ventilation intakes.
