How Indoor Air Quality Affects Your Health
We all know the basic, common things we can do to improve our health – eat more vegetables and foods lower in fat and cholesterol, exercise more, get more sleep, soak up natural vitamin D. Improving indoor air quality is a less commonly known way to improve your health, however, it is equally important.
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
It’s a well-known fact that outdoor air is polluted. But did you know that indoor air is also polluted? In fact, inside air can sometimes be five times more polluted than outside air. Considering that we spend almost 90% of our time indoors and take in about 15,000 quarts of air a day, it’s important to pay attention to the quality of both the indoor and outdoor air that we breathe.
At its natural state, indoor air is not healthy. First and foremost, our homes are more airtight than ever before so clean air is not free flowing. And whether we know it or not, we are constantly using products while doing construction, cleaning, doing our hair, that are toxic and full of potentially dangerous fumes.
This can be truly damaging to your health. Air pollutants can cause respiratory problems, headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea, fatigue and asthma. Health problems such as these can have a long lasting impacting on your immune system and make you more susceptible to viruses.
How To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
While indoor air is not naturally good for you, there are ways that you can improve indoor air quality and, therefore, improve your health. By bettering the air quality in your home you:
- Decrease chemical and biological contaminants such as air-borne viruses, mold, bacteria and germs. You can do this with specific indoor air quality equipment such as whole-house UV filters. W.H. Riley is proud to offer the APCO UV Light Volt Technology System that one of our equipment professionals can reliably set up for you.
- Eliminate the toxins you’re exposed to. This can easily be done by buying clean, natural and organic cleaning and self-care products. If you want to go the extra mile, make your own cleaning products with natural agents such as vinegar and baking soda.
- Ensure that you’re breathing clean, fresh air. Make sure your HVAC system is up to par and keeping air moving. Routine HVAC duct cleanings keeps allergens and mold away.
- Reduce the risk of headaches, dizziness, memory loss, vision problems, eye irritation and respiratory issues. An easy way to achieve this is by choosing healthier alternatives when undergoing construction, such as low-VOC paint.
- Reduce toxic vapors and chemicals. Just add some greenery to your home, as a plant’s leaves and soil absorb toxic chemicals and eliminate toxic vapors.
W.H. Riley & Son Indoor Air Quality Services
If you’re in the southeastern Massachusetts area, W.H. Riley & Son is available and ready to provide you with a free estimate on purifying and bettering the air in your home. We are committed to helping you improve your indoor air quality so contact us today.