Importance of Indoor Air Quality
Air quality is one of the most important things that you should pay attention to in your home, because the air affects everyone – whether they know it or not.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests getting an inspection to make sure that your home is free of dangerous air pollutants that can have negative effects – now or many years down the road.
What are the Causes of Air Pollution Indoors?
There are many different kinds of indoor air pollutants that can occur in a home. These include:
- Smoking
- Tobacco products
- New paint fumes that aren’t properly ventilated
- Fuel-burning appliances
- Hidden asbestos
- Too much moisture in the air
- HVAC or dehumidifying units
The air inside your home can also become polluted from things outside like radon, general air pollution – from cars, planes, factories, etc – and, from pesticides.
The degree of pollution and level of severity of each of these depends on the situation, so it is important to be aware of the effects of each.
What Can You Do?
Get an inspection on the home.
Whether it is a home that you own already and just want to reassure yourself, or a home that you are thinking about buying, getting an inspection to test the air quality is a good idea.
- Inspectors can test for radon and mold, which are two things that can severely hinder the quality of the air in a home.
- They can also look for insulation that may contain asbestos, which is a deadly chemical known to cause cancer.
Make sure that your home is properly ventilated.
Having the proper ventilation in your home is a great way to improve the air quality.
- Check vents and air filters for dust and debris.
- Replace filters for the furnace and vents, this will not only make the air quality better but will help with reducing allergies.
- Seal doors and windows to make sure that dust and debris can’t come inside through the cracks.
Install Detectors
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are the best way to make sure that these harmful gases are not infiltrating your home.
There are also detectors for radon gas. These are great for homes that have detected radon levels outside, and:
- either the levels aren’t high enough to require a mitigation system
- or it does have a mitigation system in place that needs to be regulated
Solution
If you think that your home may have poor air quality, it is important to call a professional to help you get the problem fixed. While some problems are not noticeable right away, they can be fatal if not caught.
A home inspector can help make sure that your home is safe to live in and will be for years to come.
