3 Things You Need to Know to Keep your Indoor Air Clean

(NC) Poor indoor air quality can affect your health. Young children, older adults, and those with existing heart and lung conditions such as asthma are more susceptible to the adverse health effects of common indoor pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and mold.

Here are the three most important ways to improve your indoor air:

1. Remove or reduce sources of indoor air pollution:

– Do not smoke indoors.
– Limit or avoid the use of any combustion source, such as incense, candles, and wood stoves. Consider choosing a low-emission wood stove.
– Always read and follow instructions on the labels of household chemical products and pesticides.
– Install a certified smoke detector and ensure you have at least one functioning carbon monoxide (CO) alarm outside of each bedroom.
– Always keep the door between your home and garage closed. Never idle your car or other fuel-burning equipment in your garage.
– Fix any moisture problems immediately and maintain humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent.
– Make sure fuel-burning appliances are maintained.
– Use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that traps small particles.

2. Ventilate your home

– Leave interior doors open whenever possible, and place furniture away from heating vents and outside walls to allow for airflow.
– Turn on exhaust fans that vent to the outdoors while showering and cooking, especially when frying food or using a gas stove.
– Open windows whenever possible, especially when renovating or using products that may release chemicals into the air, such as when painting, varnishing, working with composite wood, or installing carpets.
– Use your mechanical ventilation system if you have one. Replace or clean filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
– Portable HEPA air purifiers may also reduce indoor particulate levels. Avoid using portable air filtration units that generate ozone bi-products.

3. Keep outdoor air pollution outside

– Check the Air Quality Health Index, known as the AQHI, to see if there is air pollution you should be concerned about in your area. The WeatherCan app is a great resource that includes the AQHI.
– Keep windows and doors closed and use air conditioning if outdoor air quality is poor.
– Properly seal windows and doors with weather stripping.
– Set your ventilation system to recirculate when the outdoor air is poor, and bring in fresh air when the outdoor air has improved. Install a high-quality air filter.