Is the Air You're Breathing Clean?

Enhancing the indoor air quality of your home will have reverberating effects on your overall health and wellbeing. You may be wondering, “How do I know if my air is clean?” If you are unsure about your air quality, there are a few ways that you can gauge the quality of air that you breathe. The first method, is taking a look at your overall health. If you only feel tired, have trouble breathing or any other abnormal condition while you are at home, then your air quality should be one of the first places that you look. In addition, there are air quality monitors on the market that you can purchase from your local hardware store or online.

What Types of Pollutants Are in Your Air

There are a litany of potential pollutants floating in the air of your home. If this sounds scary, it should be. Some of the most prevalent dangerous particles that pollute indoor air quality are listed below.

• Biological Pollutants: Mold, viruses, bacteria, pollen, pet dander, pest droppings, etc.
• Dangerous Chemicals: Asbestos, lead, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, radon, formaldehyde
• Indoor Particulate Matter: Tobacco smoke and chemicals from stoves, chimneys, and fireplaces
• Volatile Organic Compounds: Airborne chemicals from aerosol spray, bug repellent, air fresheners, cleaning products, etc.

This list is not exhaustive, but offers a good picture of the dangerous particles and chemicals that many people are breathing on a regular basis. If not rectified, this can lead to short and long term health complications.

Are Those Pollutants Dangerous?

In short, absolutely. They can cause a bevy of health issues ranging from simple irritations to long term illnesses. There are many recognizable consequences of poor air quality:

1. Mild Symptoms: headaches, tiredness, stuffy nose, trouble breathing
2. More Severe Symptoms: asthma, bronchitis, flu like symptoms
3. Extreme Conditions: respiratory infections, pneumonia, potential development of cancer

As you can see, the consequences of living in an environment with poor air quality can be detrimental to your health in many ways. It is important to regularly check the quality of your air and take the necessary steps to ensure your safety. 

Steps to Enhance Your Indoor Air Quality

It is imperative that you purchase an indoor air quality monitor or hire a professional to gauge the quality of your air on a regular basis. In addition, ensure that you remember to schedule yearly maintenance on your heating and cooling system. It is possible for mold, mildew, bacteria, etc. to live in your vents and duct. One of the easiest and most cost efficient steps to take is to purchase a filter with a high minimum efficiency reporting value. Check out www.myfilterking.com - MERV rating guide to learn more about the best MERV rating for your home. Typically, the higher the MERV rating the better for your overall health and piece of mind. Taking these small steps can lead to huge changes in your overall health as well as save you a little bit of money as well.