Indoor Air Can Be Worse for You to Breathe than Outdoor Air

Hot summer air can feel awful to breathe. Between the humidity, car fumes, and truck fumes, breathing outside feels insufferable. Have you ever considered that it may actually be worse to breathe indoor air than outdoor air? This may be a change in mentality for many people, but there could potentially be more harmful air contaminants in your home or at your office than outside. How can this be? What kinds of harmful contaminants could you be breathing right now?

Air Contaminants

There may be various contaminants in our homes and offices keeping us from breathing clean air. Molds and allergens are the most common. When moisture builds up from leaks or condensation, mold has just the right conditions for growth. Dehumidifying the air can help prevent a mold problem. While mold will not affect everyone the same way, it will cause serious problems for people who already have respiratory diseases like asthma. Most people have carbon monoxide detectors in their homes because of how dangerous it is. Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. What does this mean? When your HVAC system or space heater isn’t functioning properly, it can release harmful carbon monoxide particles into the air, particles that can prevent you from getting the oxygen you need to survive.

Radon exposure can cause serious diseases, such as lung cancer. Building materials can be a source for radon, so if you work in construction or are involved in a project, consider having tests done to check on the amount of radon in the air. What can you do to protect yourself and your family from these types of air toxins? Change the air conditioning filters.

Air Conditioning Filters

Filters in the air conditioning system capture dirt, dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander from the air in your home. When these filters fill with materials, they aren’t able to continue to effectively filter the air any longer. The last thing you want is that type of bacteria building up in your home, so changing your air filters on a regular basis is important. It may also help to upgrade your air filters to a more expensive brand. They may be able to clean the air in your home more effectively than the cheaper brands. Filters that cost around $5 each look like a pleated cloth. These filers can even keep smoke from settling in your home. The pleated pattern catches the harmful materials yet still allows the air to flow through the HVAC system to keep it functioning correctly.

How often should you change your filters? Once a month is best. Even if the instructions on the package say 90 days, the amount of dirt in your home may be more than what the filter accounts for, especially if you have kids or pets. If you are serious about improving the air quality in your home, when an HVAC technician comes to perform maintenance on your unit, ask about high-efficiency filters. These filters are more expensive, but are well worth the cost because of their performance quality. They only need to be changed once a year and can substantially improve the air in your home. They are designed for specific systems, so make sure you let your HVAC technician choose the right one for your home and install it for you.

Electronic Air Cleaners

You can purchase an additional air purifier for your home if you want. These are probably not necessary for most homes, but if you are someone or live with someone who has a respiratory condition, an air cleaner may help. You can get one that attaches to your HVAC unit or you can get one that sits in a particular room. Not all of these models work the same way, so make sure you are purchasing for quality over price. These systems can make sure that there are absolutely no contaminants in the air in addition to your air conditioning filters, almost like a back up system.

Green Technology

If you want to go a step beyond the type of air conditioning filters and really try to help the environment, consider an HVAC system designed to be green. You can choose a unit that conserves energy as it runs. Some systems are designed to function only when they detect harmful gases in the air. Rather than running all day when there are no contaminants in the air, a sensor can detect the amount of carbon monoxide in the air and remove it before it becomes harmful to you. This way, you are keeping your home safe while simultaneously protecting the environment.

What is the simplest way to make sure the air is clean? Open the windows every once and a while and get some fresh air inside. Even if you work in a city with a lot of outdoor pollution, outdoor air can still be better for you to breathe than indoor air.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Home And Family" article category.

People interested in the above article "Indoor Air Can Be Worse for You to Breathe than Outdoor Air" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

 

Types of Conservatories

A conservatory typically is a room or set of rooms built into the side of a house that allows the occupants to enjoy the outdoors without being exposed to bad weather, uncomfortable temperatures, or insects. A conservatory almost always has big windows to bring sunlight and viewscapes into the space. In some cases, conservatories are made almost entirely of glass, with strong but minimalist structural support. Frequently a conservatory functions as a place where tender plants that would not survive outdoors can be cultivated.

Home Drinking Water Safety: Is it Guaranteed?

Home drinking water safety is our responsibilty not the local or federal governments. This is because we control what we do with the water that comes out of our tap. So what can we do about home drinking water safety?

Traditions And Family Bonds For A Better Generation

Traditional family structures have lasted so long, despite the societal changes that have occurred through the ages, is an indication of their success as a means of the survival of mankind and civilization as a whole. While certainly there are a variety of potential family structures that can be used in the rearing of children.

Family Bonds Nurture Community Spirit

The family is the smallest unit in a community. It is also the child's first school for learning values like sharing, caring and compassion. The family provides a secure setting where citizens of the future are molded to become responsible members of the community.

Fostering In The Current Economic Climate

There is a growing need to find people who have the commitment, qualities and who are prepared to accept the risks involved of looking after other people's vulnerable children.

The Powerful Steam Vacuum Cleaner

A selection of hot water extractors are being marketed that range from the large or small canister types with hose and nozzle to those that look more like an upright vacuum cleaner. The basic operation of the steam cleaner vacuum involves spraying a mixture of warm water and detergent into the carpet, washing the fibers and then extracting the solution mixture back out. There are some models that include rotating or revolving brushes that will agitate the carpet for better cleaning.

New Training Standards For Fostering Children

The Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care have been developed by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) who is responsible for ensuring that people working with children, young people and their families have the best possible training, qualifications, support and advice.