Most people think of air pollution as only being outside of the house. After all, you can see it in the sky when everything is abnormally gray or dusty. Yet, this is something that can actually be in your very own home. It is so subtle that you might not even be aware of it. If you’ve been suspicious of the quality of the air in your home, then you’ve come to the right place. Here is a guide to teach you about air pollution so that you can take action if you need to do so:
What Is Air Pollution?
Air pollution is contaminated air that people breathe into their bodies. To clarify, the air that you breathe in your home may be polluted by lead, radon, fire-retardants, formaldehyde, or volatile chemicals. Several of these pollutants are brought into your home from carpet cleaners, furniture, a new mattress, or a fresh coat of paint.
In that mix, you will also come across high allergens called microscopic dust mites. Believe it or not, you could also have pet dander in your house even though you don’t own a pet. How is this possible? Pet owners visit your home, and they carry it on their clothing. It is that simple!
What Are the Health Risks?
Breathing in the polluted, contaminated air can affect everyone, especially those who already have respiratory diagnoses such as asthma. Indoor pollutants’ initial effects may not always show up right away—it could be years later. Some of these contaminants may cause Legionnaire’s disease, respiratory diseases, or even cancer. Nowadays, indoor allergens and irritants have become more detrimental to your health due to people staying inside more. A few decades ago, this was not the case because most people spent more time outside their house.
How Can You Get Rid of It?
Chemicals and allergens can build up over time within in your home. To lower the pollutants inside your house, you should use an air filtration system like those from Pacific Heating & Cooling. Such systems are designed to actively decontaminate the air and produce pure, clean air.
An air filtration system also has the ability to reduce unseen mold, cigarette smoke, and other bacterial diseases. Other things that you can do to get rid of pollutants are keeping your home clean, testing for radon, and not permitting smoking in your home. It is also a good idea to keep a healthy level of humidity of around 30 to 50 percent in order to lower the allergens that may come from dust mites and other such influences.
If your home has a lot of air pollution, it is time to do something about it. Find out what the sources are and start getting rid of them. This may require a deep cleaning to be done or, possibly, the help of a professional. No matter what it takes, it is worth it. Your health, not to mention the health of your household, will thank you for it.