Friday, July 11, 2014

How To Improve Poor Air Quality In Your Home

By Peter Meldrop


There is an old saying that a man's home is his castle. This implies that the home is some sort of fortress; a haven from the dangers of the outside world. And rightly so. The home should be the place where you feel safe. However, there is potential that your home could be harboring dangers that you are not aware of. One way it can do this is with the quality of air.

Human beings have a number of basic needs that must be fulfilled on a daily basis. The three most vital are food, water and air. However, we are capable of surviving for several days without water, and several weeks without food. But the majority of us can seldom go for a minute with breathing. This shows just how vital breathable air is to a human body. And just like food and drink, some air is better for you than other air. If you ate large portions of junk food on a regular basis, you would quickly notice a decline in your health. Similarly, breathing air of poor quality day to day can have a negative impact on your health.

Living in a home with bad air quality has proven and noticeable impacts on your health. If you have lived in a home with such air quality, you have probably felt these impacts firsthand, even if you were not aware of their source. Persistent headaches or symptoms that feel like cold or flu could be traced back to air quality. A human body can take quite a bit of punishment, but exposure to seemingly minor hazards for long periods of time can cause a slow, but steady, decline of health. And most people spend the most amount of time in their home. If the environment there is not up to snuff, it could have a cumulative, negative effect on your health.

One source of unhealthy air, especially in older homes, could be the construction materials themselves. The most dangerous of potential hazards would be things like asbestos or lead, but these are regulated much more strictly now than they were in the past. But making sure your home has been inspected is never a bad idea.

Another common source of air contaminants would be soft fabrics. The fibers of carpets, blankets, curtains and furniture are particularly adept at holding onto dust and allergens, releasing them back into the air when used or moved. Regular, thorough cleaning can help mitigate this problem.

Nothing lasts forever, they say. Everything goes on a cycle of decay and renewal. This seems to be true of air quality as well. The most effective way to keep your home filled with healthy air is through the mantra "Out with the old, in the with the new". Keeping a steady flow of fresh air in the home is vital to keeping the air quality optimal. Opening windows is a good start, but that often only works for a few rooms and is not possible during certain seasons. What would work better is a system to filter and circulate air throughout the home.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment