Page 40 - Harnett Life Fall 2021

Home Upgrades for Better Indoor Air Quality

FAMILY FEATURES
hen most people think about air
quality, they’re typically thinking
about outdoor pollution. However,
Waccording to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the air inside your
home can be as polluted, or even more so, than
the air outside. The concentrations of some indoor
pollutants can be as much as 2-5 times higher than
typical outdoor concentrations.
This is partly due to increasingly energy-efficient
home construc tion and the growing use of synthetic
materials in furnishings and interior finishes.
The air inside your home also contains pollutants
from everyday activities like cooking, bathing and
cleaning. A family of four can produce the equivalent
of 22-30 pounds of moisture per day from normal
activities, according to the Institute of Specialist
Surveyors and Engineers, while household cleaners
and products like paint, upholstery, carpeting and
plastics can release chemicals containing volatile
organic compounds. Pets and dust mites also
contribute to poor air quality.
On average, Americans spend an estimated
90% of their time indoors, according to the EPA.
All that time with minimal access to daylight
and fresh air can take a toll on your health. For
example, damp and moldy environments can
increase the risk of developing asthma by up
to 40%, according to research published by the
Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics.
Particularly after all the extra time at home due
to the pandemic, homeowners are placing greater
emphasis on home design and habits that promote
health and wellness. These steps for managing indoor
air quality can help you create a healthier home.

Support your HVAC system
Many homeowners assume their heating and
cooling (HVAC) system is adequate to manage their
home’s indoor air quality. Typically, these systems
only circulate existing indoor air, so you’re missing
out on the benefits of circulating fresher, cleaner air.
What’s more, without regular servicing and
frequent filter replacements, it’s easy for standard
HVAC systems to fall short. This is especially true
in older homes or in households where there’s a
high volume of allergens like dust or pet dander.
Adding standalone or integrated devices can help
give your HVAC system some extra support. Air
purifiers can effectively help filter pollutants while
ultraviolet lights purify the air and help control
pollutants like bacteria, mold and mildew.
Another common pitfall is humidity control.
Too much moisture in the air can contribute to
significant air quality problems. On the other hand,
air that’s too dry can promote dusty, abrasive
conditions that are hard on allergies and other
respiratory conditions.
Page 40 Harnett Life ~ Fall 2021