Environmental pollution is a verified fact and known by all. What you may not know is that the purity of the air in your home can also be affected.
Knowing how to improve the quality of the air at home is a priority to take proper care of your health and that of your loved ones.
Contamination inside and outside the home, a risk factor
Contrary to what it may seem, the quality of the air at home can be up to five times worse than that of outdoor spaces. Although we are inclined to think that our homes are shielded from contaminating agents, the reality is quite another. And it has its logic.
Outdoors, the dispersion of harmful elements is greater. Air currents and the volume of the outside space prevent the concentration of agents that are harmful to health and the environment.
However, inside the house the problem is concentrated. There are no continuous air currents nor is the volume of space ample for the dispersion of the concentration of pollutants.
Therefore, the quality of the air at home is a priority.
How is home air quality measured?
Contaminants are microscopic and everywhere, making just breathing a risk in itself when surrounding conditions are less than ideal.
As we mentioned at the beginning, pollution indoors is substantially higher than the concentration of pollutants outdoors. Considering that we spend between 80% and 90% of our time indoors, the risk is considerable. Especially when it comes to our workplace and housing.Best Dehumidifiers
There are currently different types of sensors available on the market that solve the question of how to measure air quality at home. The most used are:
CO2 sensors, which measure carbon dioxide levels using an energy absorption principle.
VOC concentration sensors, which measure the volatile organic compounds present in vapors and gases.
PM 2.5 sensors, which analyze fine particles in suspension.
Thermo-hygrometer sensors, humidity sensors that determine the temperature and relative humidity of a room.
Knowing how to measure the quality of the air at home is important to address the problem and reduce the amount of pollutants and, for this, it is essential to know what type of agents we are talking about. That is, knowing the origin of the problem to find the solution.
What kind of pollutants are in a house?
The pollutants that directly affect our health at home fall into three different groups:
Suspended particles
They are elements that we all know and that we know are present, to a greater or lesser extent, in any room.
It is dust, animal hair, mites, ash or pollen. Of all of them, the most harmful are the smaller ones, since they reach the bronchioles and negatively impact health.
biological agents
Like suspended particles, biological agents are old acquaintances in any home.
Elements such as bacteria, fungi, mold spores or viruses adhere to these suspended particles, causing problems in the respiratory tract that lead to allergic reactions or infectious diseases.
Chemical agents
Chemical pollution has effects on our body in the short and long term and is generated by the incomplete combustion of cigarettes, boilers, traffic, paints and pesticides, furniture and construction materials and even by human breathing itself.
The variety of chemical compounds from these combustions is quite wide and includes elements such as carbon monoxide (CO) derived from the use of cooking and heating, nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or carbon dioxide (CO2).
In addition, it is important to take into account radon gas, a natural compound that emanates from the ground due to the decomposition of uranium and that enters directly into homes, causing an increased risk of lung cancer due to extensive exposure to this gas.Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
How to improve air quality at home
Once we have identified the problem, the starting point is to try to reduce or minimize those points of contamination. To do this, it is necessary to follow a series of fundamental guidelines common to any of the polluting agents:
1. Ventilate the house daily
Poor ventilation allows contaminating components to remain inside. It is advisable to open doors and windows at least twice a day, as long as no member of the house suffers from allergies or temperatures are extreme.
In these cases, an air conditioning system and air purifiers are the solution. Although these devices generally do not specifically remove gaseous pollutants, their use combined with routine ventilation and control of pollutant sources is sufficient to improve the quality of the air in the home.
2. Follow a proper and frequent cleaning routine
Use natural fragrances to avoid volatile compounds from artificial products. Traditional cleaners can release formaldehyde on contact with the air and cause serious health problems.
Use fragrance-free cleaning products and eliminate the use of sprays and air fresheners. There are very simple tricks to use natural fragrances, such as the combination of lemon and baking soda in the kitchen, which will bring a clean and fresh aroma to your home.
3. Maintain the appropriate levels of humidity and temperature to prevent the appearance and proliferation of fungi and bacteria
Excess humidity favors the formation of mold, which directly causes multiple lung infections and allergies, and its absence can cause respiratory problems caused by dryness, as well as considerable damage to household items.
With a hygrometer you can measure the ambient humidity and choose between a humidifier or a dehumidifier depending on the particular needs of your home. Heating and air conditioning are essential tools to regulate temperature easily and effectively.
The filters of the devices for the home allow to control the presence of pollen particles and mites, which are natural exacerbators of diseases such as asthma or allergies.
The use of these devices, together with air purifiers and a correct cleaning and ventilation routine, are the perfect way to improve the quality of the air at home.
In addition, washing bedding frequently, cleaning carpets with low-emission vacuum cleaners or drying clothes near an open window are also measures, although simple, very effective in reducing sources of contamination by biological agents.
4. Don't smoke indoors
If smoking is a danger in itself, smoking indoors is an even greater risk, since the accumulation of smoke seriously damages the quality of the air in the home and significantly increases the chances of serious illness.
5. Small gestures to improve air quality at home
Choosing ecological paints and products, as well as furniture made of natural wood or with veneered surfaces, will allow you to avoid the formaldehyde present in the wood agglomerate.
Additionally, turning on an exhaust fan when cooking and showering helps remove contaminants and reduce moisture-increasing components.
Now that you know how to improve the quality of the air at home, we invite you to check the levels in your home and analyze the possible sources of contamination. And, if you have any doubts or problems about any aspect of the quality of the air in your home, contact us and we will gladly solve it for you.