Let Your Home Breathe
Proper ventilation in your home is like the lungs in your body. You want to make sure plenty of fresh air is getting in and all the dirty air is getting out. If your home is too tightly sealed, as many newer homes are, there is no way for fresh air to enter your home and help dilute or transport the bad air out.
Between school, work, restaurants, and home, the average person spends 90% of their time indoors. While resting indoors the average person breathes in about 7 to 8 liters of air a minute. That’s 11,000 liters of air per day! If your home does not have the proper ventilation the level of pollutants in the air may be high and threaten your health and comfort. Not sure what an indoor air pollutant is, here’s a list from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
- Asbestos
- Bacteria
- Carbon monoxide
- Dust
- Fireplaces/Chimneys
- Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products
- Indoor Particulate Matter
- Lead
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Pesticides
- Pet dander
- Radon
- Secondhand Smoke
- Stoves/Heaters
- Viruses
- Volatile Organic Compounds-chemicals found in paint, carpet, cleaning products, and more.
That’s quite the list, right? What can you do to help decrease the number of pollutants in your home? There are many ways such as upgrading your filter, buying some indoor plants, and covering your pillows and mattress with hypoallergenic covers. One free and easy way we recommend is to bring outdoor air indoors. In other words, increase ventilation!
Poor ventilation can lead to an increase in indoor pollutants with no way to get out of your home which may lead to allergies, coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes or in worst cases, respiratory disease or lung cancer.
Here are three ways you can increase the ventilation in your home and dilute pollutants:
- Natural ventilation-cracking a window or leaving the door open can allow for air to naturally enter and exit your home. Air may also be entering or exiting your home unintentionally through cracks and holes like a drafty window or electrical outlets.
- Spot ventilation-this is where you use an exhaust fan such as over your stove or in the bathroom. The fan above your stove will help remove odors and harmful pollutants produced by the stove. The fan in your bathroom will help remove moisture from the air after a shower which will help to prevent mold and mildew growth.
- Whole-home ventilation- A whole-home ventilation system is the best option because of its ability to bring air into your home with control and consistency, unlike natural or spot ventilation.
If you are concerned about the air quality in your home your Daffan Cooling & Heating team can help.
We are your home’s best friend which means we have your best interests at heart and want to ensure you and your family are comfortable and safe.
In addition to providing the best air conditioning and heating service for over 20 years, we offer a variety of indoor air purification options.
