Your home air quality is not something to neglect. If you or your family members have allergies and asthma, it can worsen respiratory symptoms.
Air purification can also reduce airborne illnesses and hazardous particles. The EPA reports indoor air pollution is two to five times higher than outdoor pollution.
Do you want to know the benefits of high air quality and how to improve it? Here’s a basic guide.
Why Home Air Quality Matters
Your home air quality can affect many facets of your life, from overall health to sleep quality.
Even if respiratory symptoms aren’t currently a household issue, research has indicated homes with mold can increase the risk of children developing asthma. Air pollution and allergy triggers can also increase children developing dust allergies.
Asthma and Allergies
Air purification can significantly reduce asthma and allergy trigger loads, a meta-analysis of past research has found. The EPA notes HEPA filters can trap over 99% of allergen particles.
Dust allergies from dust mites are the most common issue. Other common triggers include pet dander, mold spores, household cleaners, and pests like cockroaches.
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Airborne Illnesses
Air purification scrubs pathogens from your home, reducing the risks of spreading bacterial and viral infections in your home. Some air purification systems use UV light to kill pathogens.
The CDC has recently recommended improving home air quality to mitigate COVID. This includes installing air purifiers and consulting HVAC professionals about your current air system.
Chemicals and Toxic Particles
Air purification can reduce or eliminate harmful particles including radon and asbestos. It reduces outdoor pollution like carbon monoxide that seeps into your home.
It can also fight against mold and mold spores. Mold can cause health problems ranging from mild to severe. People with respiratory symptoms and suppressed immune systems are especially affected by mold.
How to Improve Your Home Air Quality
Air purification is a multi-step process. Your first step is testing your home air quality to determine what specific issues you’ll have to address.
Installing and maintaining clean, properly working air filtration and air conditioning systems is your second step. If you already have a regular air conditioning company, they may offer air purification services too.
Test Your Home Air Quality
You can test home air quality with different devices, however not every device will test everything. You might need multiple devices to keep accurate track.
A local air conditioning company like Top Gun Heating and Air can offer home air testing. When selecting a company, many will offer HVAC system assessments to help you determine where the issues are lurking.
Install Air Purification Systems
Air purification systems can go a long way in reducing issues like mold and dust allergies, but not every system lives up to its hype. Some systems will work for certain issues, but not be effective for others.
Make sure to do research or consult your air system experts before buying and installing an expensive system.
Clean Your Air Ducts
Air duct cleaning is a regular maintenance task that gets overlooked. Like an air purification system, clean air ducts can help reduce airborne irritants.
If your air ducts have issues like mold or pest infestations, cleaning them will go a long way towards improving home air quality. A big build-up of grime and dust can also be an issue.
Breathing Your Way into Better Health
Air purification is worth the investment. Low home air quality can affect even the healthiest people. A healthy, happy home starts with breathing clean air free of irritants, chemicals, and sickness pathogens.
For more information on how to improve home air quality, check out the
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s home cleaning guide.
