Seattle Indoor Air Quality Guide
There is all kinds of talk about the outside air we breathe…is it clean; is it free from such things as the toxic emissions from cars, manufacturing pollutants or even outdoor burning?
But have you ever considered the air you breathe in your home where air quality can be just as toxic or worse and detrimental to your health as those things we have mentioned above?
Sources of indoor air toxins:
Although you are usually not aware that you are breathing in toxins in your home, believe it or not, they can be found in every room. They can come from:
- Your pet
- Your fireplace
- Space heaters, water heaters and furnaces
- Many of our appliances release gases and particles that we breathe every day
- Cleaning products
- Dust mites
- Carpet
- Plastics
- Certain building materials
- Mold spores
Just as you can suffer from chronic illness, your home can suffer from chronic poor air quality…sometimes called “Sick Building Syndrome”. Although that may sound funny, to people whose health is affected by it, it’s no laughing matter.
Bad air quality can cause:
- Cold symptoms that won’t go away, such as coughing and sneezing
- Respiratory problems
- Frequent and lasting headaches
- Asthma -If you already have asthma it will increase your symptoms
These conditions affect the elderly, the very young and those who already struggle with some of these issues the most.
How to improve the air quality in your home
Regular cleaning is a great way to improve the condition of your home’s air. Although frequent dusting and vacuuming is important, it’s also important to have your furnace and your air ducts cleaned regularly.
Use your ventilation fans whenever you’re cooking or showering. Good ventilation in your home can help eliminate humidity issues which help cause dust mites and mold growth. If your home seems to always have high humidity, using a dehumidifier can be very helpful.
Choose your cleaning products carefully. Beware of those that might contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) including ammonia and bleach. Choose products with low or no VOCs and avoid aerosols and other sprays.
Keeping your pets clean can help reduce allergy causing dander.
No smoking in the house.
Grow live plants in your house. There are several plants that can help remove the pollutants that fill your air: The Peace Lily, Dracaena, English Ivy and Areca Palm to name a few.
If you think you have mold that is causing poor air conditions in your home, it may cause serious problems if not dealt with correctly, it’s damaging to your health and to your home.
Contact us if you think you have a mold problem – we know what to look for, where to find it, and what to do when its found.
