Why an Energy-Efficient House Can Affect Air Quality and How to Enhance It 

Homes today are constructed with energy efficiency in mind. This involves added insulation and tightly sealed doors and windows to keep energy costs affordable. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for your indoor air quality. 

Since air has reduced chances to escape, contaminants can accumulate and impact your home’s indoor air quality. In reality, your home’s air can actually be 2–5 times more unhealthy than the outdoors, according to the EPA. That’s not good for anyone, but it’s especially detrimental for loved ones with allergies, asthma, other respiratory concerns or heart disease. 

Let’s go over some of these everyday contaminants and how you can improve your home’s indoor air quality. 

6 Everyday Pollutants that Affect Indoor Air Quality 

When you picture pollutants, you may think about smog or tobacco smoke. But many substances that impact your air quality are common substances. These things contain chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. 

They involve: 

1. Cleaning products, like aerosol sprays, bleach and window cleaner. 

2. Personal care products, including hairspray, perfume and nail products. 

3. Candles and air fresheners. 

4. Formaldehyde, which is frequently used in plastic, foam and particleboard products. 

5. Furniture, window treatments and carpet, especially when they’re brand new. 

6. Paints and stains. 

Other everyday pollutants include: 

• Dust 
• Pet dander 

• Pollen 
• Mold 

Symptoms of VOC Exposure 

Some people are more affected by VOCs than others. The EPA says symptoms of VOC exposure entail: 

• Irritated eyes, nose or throat 

• Headaches 
• Dizziness 
• Fatigue 

In bad situations, the EPA says VOCs can lead to respiratory and heart diseases. 

4 Ways to Enhance Your Residence’s Indoor Air Quality 

It isn’t hard to improve your home’s air quality. Here are several ideas from Harvard Medical School: 

1. Clean Your Residence Frequently 

Regularly cleaning and washing surfaces that attract allergens, including furniture, carpet and bedding, will help reduce on dust, dust mites and pet dander in your home. 

2. Routinely Replace Your Air Filter 

This essential filter keeps your home comfy and air fresh. How often you should change your air filter depends on the kind of filter you use. Flat filters should be replaced each month, while pleated filters should be replaced every three months. If you don’t know if your filter should be replaced, remove it and hold it up to the light. Get a new one if you can’t see light through it. 

If someone in your house deals with allergies or asthma, we suggest having a filter with a better MERV rating. The bigger the number this is, the better your filter is at removing contaminants. 

3. Enhance Natural Ventilation 

Keep fresh air moving by opening windows whenever the temperature allows. We also suggest running exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen frequently to get rid of pollutants and introduce more fresh air. 

4. Chat Our Indoor Air Quality Pros 

From whole-home air purifiers, Roland J. Down Service Experts has a resolution to help your household breathe better. We’ll help you find the ideal option during your free home comfort assessment. Reach us at 518-417-2938 to book yours now!