Improve Your Home's Indoor Air Quality
Did you know air pollution levels in your Florida home air may be greater than the quality of air outside? It sounds surprising, but the air in your house can be up to five times more polluted than what you are breathing outdoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
It is important to recognize this and work towards implementing a plan to improve your home’s air quality. That last call to action is crucial because your Florida home’s air quality can have a profound impact on your health.
Some of the most common health effects associated with indoor air pollutants include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Sinus discomfort
- Irritation of the eyes, nose and/or throat
- Other more serious health concerns like asthma, heart issues and even cancer
So, the question remains, what can you do to start improving the air quality in your home to lessen the load of air pollutants?
One easy place to start is to get rid of and replace the following products with healthier, more natural alternatives.
Here are five common household products that pollute your Florida home’s air:
Cleaning Supplies: You may love when your home “smells” clean, but many cleaning supplies are also a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your air. To reduce the amount of VOCs cleaners release, try making your own cleaning products using natural items like water and vinegar or baking soda. There are also a lot of effective, natural cleaning products on the market today to choose from. Paint: Painting the rooms in your home can do wonders from a design perspective, however if you are painting with high levels of VOCs, you could be doing more harm than good. When purchasing paint for your next product, choose one that says “low VOC” on the label. Air Fresheners: Oh, your house may smell so fresh and so clean, but many of the common air fresheners on the market emit lots and lots of chemicals in the air with every spray. Consider other natural air freshening options like adding live air-cleaning plants throughout your home, use a HEPA air purifier or using truly natural air freshening options using quality essential oils. Candles: Say it ain’t so! Believe it or not, it is likely that many of the candles throughout your house could be responsible for emitting some toxic particles and fumes into the air. An easy switch for all the candle lovers out there is to consider looking for more natural candles made of beeswax or soy options. Hair Products: Some of today’s most popular hair products are considered a chief source of air pollutants because they contain high concentrations of VOCs and in some cases even formaldehyde. Aerosol hair spray products especially, are a major source of spreading these throughout the air. Luckily, there are a lot of eco-friendly, non-toxic products on the market making the switch a little easier.
Did you know your HVAC system can help remove indoor pollutants from the air? On top of the products listed above, your indoor air quality is also burdened with other pollutants like dust, dander, pollen, and other debris that creep into your house from the outside. Having an efficient air conditioner can help remove pollutants from the air.
If you are concerned about your air quality or want to get more information on how to improve the indoor air quality of your home with your current HVAC system or a new one, call Mason Air Conditioning and Heating today 727-433-9853 or schedule an appointment online.
Our trained technicians at Mason Air Conditioning & Heating will evaluate your AC unit and provide you with a professional recommendation for improving your home’s air quality. We provide affordable HVAC repair and installation options in the Clearwater, FL, area to fit your home and your budget.