Breathe Easier in Your Pennsylvania Home
Written on: March 26, 2018
We recently came across two facts in a report from the Environmental Protection Agency that, in combination, really helped us understand why the agency considers indoor air quality to be one of the most important public health issues of our time:
- The average American spends 87 percent of his or her time indoors, consuming more than 15,000 gallons of air each day.
- Indoor levels of pollutants might be as much as 100 times the levels found outdoors.
In our book (and the EPA’s), that’s not a good combination.
The good news is that you can greatly improve the quality of the air inside your home simply by making better choices about what you buy and how you live. Here are six easy changes you can make to help your family breathe a little easier in the years ahead.
- Switch to less toxic cleaners. Many of the cleaners available in today’s big box stores are loaded with toxins. Do a little hunting to find more people-friendly options. Better yet, make your own: homemade vinegar and baking soda cleaners will clean or disinfect just any material or surface.
- Choose better building materials. Invest a little extra money up front to get mold resistant fiberglass-covered drywall or gypsum board and low-VOC paint for your home improvement projects. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can cause respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment. Although these materials will add some expense to your project, they’ll pay off in the long run with better health and no need to redo your handiwork due to a mold problem.
- Add more plants. Adding plants throughout your house creates a natural filter for toxic chemicals and vapors trapped in your indoor air. They look great, too!
- Keep the air moving in hobby rooms. Hobbies are wonderful, but they often require you to use some pretty nasty materials. If you plan to do any paint stripping, soldering, gluing, painting, or other toxic activities, make sure your hobby room is well-vented – or better yet, do the work outdoors.
- Get annual HVAC maintenance. HVAC tune-ups keep your heating and cooling systems running properly, which helps maintain proper air quality (hint: for an even better value, sign up for an Ace-Robbins Service Plan.
- Consider installing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) equipment. If budget allows, install indoor air quality equipment, which can clean your air and prevent the conditions that create mold in the first place.
Need service for your HVAC system, or help improving your indoor air quality? Contact Ace-Robbins today to talk about options for your Pennsylvania home!
