Four Factors that Affect Your Indoor Air Quality

Indoor plants on window sill

When you think of pollution, what comes to mind? The trash in the streets, plastic bottles floating in the ocean? While that is true, the fact is that pollution comes in many forms and is all around us – even in the air we breathe. While we can’t control the quality of the air we breathe when we’re outside, we can be aware of the factors that affect the quality of air inside our homes, so we can keep it at its best at all times!

One of the most important things to know is that poor indoor air quality can have major health consequences for you and your family — creating symptoms as mild as headaches and fatigue, to more serious conditions like respiratory illness and heart disease.

What Affects the Air Quality Inside My Home?

  • Humidity Levels: Outside humidity levels can vary greatly here in the New York area, affecting the inside of your home. But other indoor factors, such as water leaks, moisture seeping in through crawlspaces, or moisture trapped in the air that comes in from outside can play a part as well. The ideal relative humidity range for indoor spaces is between 40 and 50%. Higher levels than that could cause increased levels of mold and bacteria, which could in turn cause respiratory issues. Conversely, if your humidity levels dip below 30%, you could experience skin irritation, throat soreness, and dry eyes. A whole-home humidifier/de-humidifiers installed by Robison can help regulate humidity levels throughout your home.
  • Poor Ventilation: Having a home with poor ventilation can cause polluted air to recirculate throughout your rooms. This leads to pollen and dust buildup, causing health problems, particularly for those who suffer from allergies or asthma. It’s important to introduce fresh air into your home, so if the weather allows, consider opening your windows and doors. You can also address this issue by having the professionals at Robison perform an air duct cleaning on your home.
  • Pets: Okay, we know they’re valuable members of the family, and having them around makes us happy. But having them around can also do a number in your home’s indoor air quality. Cats and dogs shed fur and dander. They also bring in all kinds of materials from the outside. All of this can cause serious allergic reactions if kept unchecked. But you can enjoy your pets and stay healthy by making sure to change out your air filters each month to increase your home’s air quality
  • Dust: Dust can consist of many items, including dead skin cells, pollen, hair, dirt particles, and clothing fibers that can cause allergic reactions. You can limit dust by cleaning with microfiber cloths and vacuuming carpets on a regular basis.

Go With Robison and Breathe Easy All Year ’Round

The first step to improving the air you breathe is knowing what affects it. Call Robison today for a free consultation on how we can help improve your home’s indoor air quality. With today’s HVAC technologies, we’ll have your home systems running at peak efficiency to save you money and help protect the health of you and your family. Call us at (914) 345-5700 to learn more about indoor air quality. And read our blog to get more tips on indoor air quality.

Categories: 
Related Posts
  • How to Keep Springtime Allergens Out of Your Indoor Air Read More
  • Recovering from the Storm? Robison is Here to Help Read More
  • Six Sources of Indoor Air Pollution – and How to Combat Them Read More
/