Most of us spend the bulk of the day indoors, and the air inside a home can carry more than people expect. Dust, pet dander, mold spores, cooking fumes, chemicals from cleaners and new furniture, and in some homes radon or carbon monoxide. The EPA notes that indoor levels of some pollutants can run higher than outdoor levels.
You don’t need expensive equipment to make a real difference. Here are eight practical ways to breathe easier at home.
1. Get humidity under control
Humidity affects almost everything else on this list. When indoor air stays damp, mold, mildew and dust mites take off, and all three are common allergy and asthma triggers. Aim to keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent. During an Eastern North Carolina summer, that usually means a well-maintained air conditioner and, in damp rooms, a dehumidifier. Our post on how to reduce indoor humidity has more ways to bring it down.
2. Vent kitchens and bathrooms to the outside
Cooking, especially on a gas stove, releases moisture and fine particles. Showers fill the bathroom with steam. Use the range hood whenever you cook and run the bath fan during and after showers. Both should send air outdoors. A range hood that only recirculates through a filter catches some grease, but it doesn’t remove moisture or combustion gases.
3. Change HVAC filters and keep the system maintained
Your heating and cooling system moves the air in your house through the same filter over and over. A clean filter traps dust, pollen and pet hair on every pass. Check it monthly and change it when it looks dirty, or at least as often as the label recommends. A higher-efficiency pleated filter catches more fine particles, as long as your system is designed for it. Regular service keeps the coil, drain pan and blower clean, too.
4. Look after the crawl space
In a home built over a crawl space, some of the air you breathe upstairs started out underneath the floor. A damp crawl space with mold on the framing, standing water or animal activity can affect the air inside your home. A sound vapor barrier, good drainage and controlled humidity help keep crawl space air from becoming living space air. If yours has problems, our moisture control service can help.
5. Keep pests out
Pests affect air quality more than most people realize. Cockroach droppings and shed skins are a well-known asthma trigger, especially for kids, and mouse droppings and urine carry allergens too. Sealing gaps around pipes and doors, fixing leaks and staying on top of pest control all help. If you’re seeing signs of mice or rats, rodent control is worth doing sooner rather than later.
6. Cut down on chemical fumes
Many household products give off volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Paint, varnish, air fresheners, some cleaners, glues and new furniture or flooring can all add to the mix. Choose low-VOC paint and finishes, keep solvents and fuel out of the living space (a detached shed is best), and open windows and run fans when you’re painting or using strong cleaners. Skip the scented sprays and plug-ins, since they cover odors instead of removing them. And never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
7. Test for radon and keep CO alarms working
Two of the most serious indoor air hazards can’t be seen or smelled. Radon is a radioactive gas that seeps up from the soil, and the EPA ranks it as the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. The only way to know your level is to test. Carbon monoxide comes from fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces and attached garages. Put CO alarms near sleeping areas and test them when you test your smoke alarms. Learn more in our post about radon in the home, and ask us about radon testing.
8. Clean in ways that trap dust instead of moving it
Dry dusting and sweeping send fine particles right back into the air. Dust with a damp or microfiber cloth, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter on carpets and rugs. Wash bedding weekly in hot water to keep dust mites down. A doormat at every entry and a shoes-off habit cut down on what gets tracked inside. And keep smoking outdoors, well away from doors and windows, since tobacco smoke is one of the worst indoor pollutants there is.
Houseplants are nice to have, but don’t count on them to clean the air. In a real home, their effect is small compared with good ventilation and filtration.
When the air still doesn’t feel right
If you’ve covered the basics and someone in the house still has allergy symptoms that ease up when they’re away, or there’s a musty smell you can’t track down, hidden moisture or mold may be the cause. Our inspections include moisture readings and infrared scanning, and we offer mold inspections if you want to dig deeper.
