Why an Energy-Efficient Residence Can Influence Air Quality and How to Make It Better 

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

Because air has reduced chances to escape, contaminants can accumulate and impact your house’s indoor air quality. In fact, your house’s air can actually be 2–5 times worse 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 conditions or heart disease. 

Let’s go over some of these everyday contaminants and how you can boost your house’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 include chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. 

They involve: 

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

2. Personal care products, such as 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 cases, 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 boost your house’s air quality. Here are a couple of ideas from Harvard Medical School: 

1. Clean Your Residence Frequently 

Regularly cleaning and washing surfaces that attract allergens, such as furniture, carpet and bedding, will help decrease on dust, dust mites and pet dander in your house. 

2. Routinely Change Your Air Filter 

This essential filter keeps your house comfy and air healthy. How often you should change your air filter depends on the kind of filter you install. Flat filters should be replaced monthly, while pleated filters should be replaced every three months. If you’re not sure if your filter should be replaced, take it out and tilt it to the light. Get a new one if you can’t see light through it. 

If someone in your family 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 eliminating contaminants. 

3. Maximize 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 bring in more fresh air. 

4. Chat Our Indoor Air Quality Pros 

From whole-home air purifiers, Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air has a fix to help your household breathe better. We’ll help you find the ideal option during your free home comfort assessment. Reach us at 210-404-4233 to schedule yours now!