5 Easy Ways To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality In Time For Spring

The importance of breathing clean air indoors cannot be overstated. Since people spend most of their time indoors, the air must be clean.

Indoor air pollution can be up to five times worse than outdoor air pollution. Despite this, few people regard indoor air pollution as a threat to health despite its many adverse effects. However, most people recognise the health concerns associated with outdoor air pollution.

Several pollutants may affect indoor air quality, such as fungi, microbial contamination, dust mites, particulate matter and air toxins like formaldehyde. The severity of respiratory infections is aggravated by air pollution, particularly in children, and it can cause a range of other health issues, including fatal conditions like cancer.

Here are some ways you can improve the quality of air in your home environment so you can breathe easier.

Install a quality range hood in your kitchen

Gas burners produce a great deal of nitrogen dioxide, which causes respiratory irritation. The configuration of the burner can also produce carbon monoxide, and there are a variety of other pollutants in your kitchen as well.

A rangehood is required to remove pollutants from the air in your kitchen, but not all models are born equal. Cheaper models may have inefficient filters, may not cover enough space and can fail prematurely. A quality Euro Appliances rangehood will ensure the highest standards of air quality in your cooking and dining spaces.

Get rid of the indoor plants

This one may come as a bit of a shock. Surely having greenery indoors would be a good thing for air quality? Don't plants produce clean oxygen for us to breathe? Unfortunately, while those facts might be true, indoor plants are also a breeding ground for moulds that produce spores that irritate and trigger allergens. 

Harvard Medical School associate professor of otolaryngology Dr Nicholas BuSaba says: "On balance, they create more problems than they help".

Eliminate smoke

If you are one of the few people left who continue to smoke cigarettes, only smoke them outside - or better still, quit entirely. We have all read about the dangers of passive smoking, which is amplified when you smoke in a confined environment.

But cigarettes aren't the only source of smoke in a household. Ensure there is plenty of ventilation to get rid of combustion waste that can be generated by fireplaces, cooktops, candles and even the fumes that can enter your home from the adjoining garage.

Clean your air-conditioning filters

To maintain good air quality in your home, it is essential to clean your air conditioner. When not regularly cleaned, filters inside air conditioners can clog up and collect moisture, dust and even mould.  

Regular air conditioning maintenance is a must - the service person makes sure the refrigerant gas levels are correct, the thermostat is functioning correctly, and all the internal components are in good shape. In between services, you should remove the filters at least twice a year and clean them in soapy water to remove all contaminants so that you are not just circulating the same pollutants through your home.

Improve the ventilation in your home

Open windows and doors to allow natural ventilation, which can reduce pollutants present in the home.

When you are involved in short-term activities that can generate high levels of pollutants, such as painting, you must take these steps.

Modern homes are increasingly featuring mechanical systems that bring in fresh air from outdoors. The designs may include energy-efficient heat recovery ventilators (also known as air-to-air heat exchangers). Additionally, the Australian Whirlybird is famous for ventilating, cleaning, and preventing the accumulation of hot air in houses and properties.