Your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the state of the indoor air you breathe. Contaminants such as pet dander, cigarette smoke, pollen, and dust, reduce IAQ and can contribute to allergy and asthma symptoms. There are simple steps you can follow to reduce your asthma symptoms and improve the IAQ in your Dublin, Georgia home.
Create a Cleaning Schedule
You might sometimes try to procrastinate on household chores like mopping, vacuuming, and dusting, but they also help improve your home’s IAQ. Create a schedule to ensure you are effectively managing contaminants in your home. Dust mites make their homes in sheets and pillow cases. Wash linens, including bedding and towels regularly in hot water.
If you have pets, it might be necessary to clean more frequently because they shed often, and pet dander can be quite problematic for persons with respiratory problems. It is important that you set aside time to tackle these necessary household chores.
Use and Storage of Products
Be careful when using cleaning products as these often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds can worsen respiratory conditions, and can be generally harmful to your health over time. If you must use these products, it is best to use them in well-ventilated areas. Otherwise, opt for environmentally-friendly products. Try making the switch to natural products that do not contain harmful ingredients. They might be more expensive, but considering the impact on your family’s health and safety, it is a price worth paying. You can also create your own natural cleaners by using products such as white distilled vinegar and baking soda.
How you store these products is also very important. Always close tightly after use. If there are children in your home, take extra precaution to keep these products out of easy reach. Curious children might ingest products and the result can be a serious medical emergency or even death. Some chemicals are flammable and can result in fires if stored too close to other flammable chemicals. If possible, keep these items out of the home. Fumes from paint, glue, and other products might cause asthma symptoms to flare up. Use and store such products outside the home, or remember to ventilate as much as possible when using the products.
Install Purification and Filtration Systems
There are several accessories and gadgets that can help you to effectively control your home’s IAQ without any extra intervention. An air purifier, for instance, eliminates allergens and VOCs from the air so you can breathe easier. High-quality air filters trap dust, pollen, and other irritants before they can circulate through your home.
A whole-home purification system might work more efficiently than a portable unit that only cleanses the air in a single room. Speak with your HVAC technician about available air quality technology that you could use in your home.
Reduce Indoor Humidity
High humidity levels can also affect asthma patients. A lot of moisture in your indoor air can result in mold growth. Mold spores can easily spread throughout the home, and apart from making you sick, mold is unsightly and can ruin structures such as window frames. Use your exhaust fans when showering and cooking. Make sure your clothes dryer vents to the outside of your home so it doesn’t contribute dust or excess moisture to the indoor air. Consider investing in a whole-home dehumidifier to improve the air quality in your home, and to help to reduce asthma attacks. If you notice a plumbing leak, have it repaired right away. This moisture provides ideal conditions for the spread of mold spores.
Outdoor Air
Outdoor air can enter your home through open doors or windows, or cracks or gaps around your home. This outdoor air contains pollutants such as dust and pollen. To prevent your indoor air from being polluted by the air outside, seal any leaks with materials such as weatherstripping or caulk as soon as possible.
Asthma attacks can be scary, and you should do everything you can to prevent them. Keeping your home clean and safe is a very important part of this process. You can take even more effective steps by having a professional inspect your home.
Pruett Air Conditioning provides reliable indoor air quality services to identify problem areas in your home and provide lasting remedies. Contact us at 478-953-4986 in Warner Robins, or 487-374-1481 in Eastman, for more information.
Image provided by Shutterstock