To maintain good health, you need to care for the quality of the air inside your house. If the air is polluted, it may cause health complications, which range from mild allergy symptoms to more serious lung diseases.
People who have allergies, alongside all elders and children are most affected by allergens in contaminated air. Households that have pets are more at risk of air pollution.
The same goes for houses that are near fields or sandy landscapes. The good news is keeping the air clean isn’t a difficult task, regardless of the location of your house.
Here are 3 easy ways you can do just that.
1. Get an Air Purifier
An air purifier is a great option, especially for those who suffer asthma or allergies. They sanitize the air from pollutants, allergens, and toxins. There are different types of air purifiers that work differently.
One type comprises high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which have been around for many years and work to purify the air without releasing harmful gases like ozone, among others.
Another type that has been around since the early 1900s is activated carbon technology, known for its high porosity and large surface area.
They are good at decontaminating the room; however, they aren’t as good at removing allergens and airborne particles. Air purifiers that use UV technology have a UV lamp, which kills microorganisms that pass through.
This makes them excellent at killing bacterias and viruses. Their downside is that they don’t affect airborne particles at all.
Negative ion purifiers, on the other hand, attract the particles, and when these particles get too heavy as a cluster to float freely in the air, they fall.
This means that negative ion purifiers don’t really eliminate air pollutants like other types of purifiers, but simply keep them out of the way so that you don’t inhale them.
Finally, there are ozone air purifiers that are not recommended seeing as health professionals claim that they aren’t safe as they may cause health complications.
2. Change Your Air Filters
An air filter is a component in your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It purifies the air from large particles, and it’s important to change it every 1 to 2 months to ensure that it works at its best capacity.
According to filterbuy.com/resources/air-filters-vs-air-purifiers/, both air purifiers and air filters do the same jobs, but they do them in different ways.
There are 4 types of air filters to pick from. Fibreglass is affordable and it protects your HVAC system, but it doesn’t screen pollutants, so they won’t protect you much.
Polyester pleated filters are good at filtering dust and pollutants from the air. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends HEPA filters because they screen 99.97% of contaminants.
A washable filter is a bit more expensive, but for good reasons, and it will last long because it’s washable. You just take it out, wash it regularly, and leave it to dry then reuse again.
Picking the perfect air filter depends on many factors, including minimum efficiency reporting value, known as MERV. The higher the MERV is, the better the air filter works, and the more pollutants it filters out.
It’s advisable to pick a filter with a MERV rating of 9-12.
3. Keep Your House Clean
A cleaner house has less dust, pollutants, and bacteria. Your vacuum cleaner is your best friend. You can use one with a HEPA filter to clean rugs and furniture that may contain dust and allergens.
Vacuum at least twice a week, and you may find your air cleaner and fresher. If you have pets, you have to reduce pet danders in the house by vacuuming. That said, smokers in the house release ashes that fall into solid objects and need to be removed.
You also need to remember that windows should be open frequently to let in the fresh air, but you have to use a duster to get the dust off the sills to prevent it from accumulating.
If you live in an area near a field or a desert, you will have to do that more often, 3-4 times a week at least.
Ensuring that the air in your house is clean is not a luxury. Breathing in clean air will prevent uncomfortable symptoms and serious diseases. Fresh air, on the other hand, will make you breathe more comfortably and improve your quality of life in every aspect.
Consider buying an air purifier, and you will find different types that you can choose from. It all depends on how much air-purifying you need in your location and household situation.
More importantly, remember to change the filter of your HVAC system regularly and pick a filter high in the MERV rating. Last but not least, a clean and well-maintained house keeps all the harmful pollutants away, so make sure that you deep clean your home every now and then when needed.
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