5 Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution in Florence, SC
You probably assume that your family breathes fresh air while inside your home. However, numerous everyday items can create poor indoor air quality. Learning the main culprits gives you the knowledge you’ll need to make good decisions for your household. Here are five common sources of indoor air pollution in Florence, SC.
1. Smoke
Smoke gets into the air from cooking, using a fireplace, smoking cigarettes, and house fires. When smoke gets into your home’s air, the whole house breathes it in. To reduce smoke pollution in your home, take the following steps:
- Prohibit smoking inside your home
- Avoid burning food
- Maintain and watch your fireplace
- Check your smoke detectors at least once a year
2. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are fumes that emit from household items used every day. Since these items are so common, most homeowners use them without realizing the harm they can cause. Common VOCs include:
- Paint
- Aerosol cans (hairspray, dust cleaner, etc.)
- Flooring (carpets, wood floors, etc.)
- Furniture
- Pesticides
- Cleaners and spray deodorants
To minimize the amount of VOCs you allow into your home, make all-natural purchasing decisions. For example, buy all-natural cleaning products and untreated furniture.
3. Dust
Dust is a common part of life. However, too must dust can make a home look old and uncared for.
Furthermore, it can irritate the respiratory system and eyes. For a real scare, do a Google search for what dust mites look like under a microscope.
The best protection against dust is frequent cleaning. Buy good cleaning products, and clean regularly. Don’t forget to clean the floors regularly, too.
4. Pet Dander
Your pet is a part of the family. Unfortunately, they release quite a bit of pet dander in the air and pet hair in the HVAC filter. Most pets can’t help but shed, and the shedding can irritate allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.
In order to minimize pet dander, you should brush your pets regularly, especially during shedding season. You should also clean the HVAC filter and vacuum it regularly.
5. Gas Leaks
The majority of American homes use gas to power appliances, such as stoves, furnaces, and water heaters. Due to trauma or old age, the gas lines or gas connections may deteriorate, leading to a gas leak.
If you smell a gas leak, turn off the gas to your home immediately, evacuate, and call for professional help. High concentrations of gas can dramatically affect respiratory health. Even scarier, a gas leak can lead to a gas fire if the fumes come into contact with an open flame.
To prevent gas leaks, consider upgrading your appliances to electricity. If that’s not an option, take the time to get your gas system inspected once a year.
Additional Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
There are additional steps that you can take to improve your air quality. For starters, consider installing an air filter in your home. The air filter will collect the toxins in the air, supplementing your HVAC unit’s current filter and greatly improving the results.
Additionally, it’s important to have a solid ventilation system. Toxins will inevitably get in your air from time to time. You need to have a way to get clean air in its place. To improve ventilation, utilize your windows and ceiling fans. You can also install additional exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen.
Poor air quality can impact your family’s health. If you need air quality services, contact our experts at Air Solutions Heating and Cooling. We offer air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilation services in Florence and the surrounding area.
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