Indoor Air Quality

The air inside your home may be worse than outdoor air quality even in large polluted cities like Houston or Los Angeles.

Most of us spend 90 percent of our time indoors where clean air is essential to good health. The health effects of polluted indoor air include increased spread of infectious disease, bronchitis, asthma, headaches, chemical sensitivities and allergic reactions.

Your nose can tell you a lot about air quality. If you are shopping for a pre-owned home, odor, or candles and incense to cover up odor, may indicate that the house has mold or animal residue. Air quality or ventilation in the house may be a problem if you notice the strong smell of mold or mildew, plastic, vinyl or cleaning products.

Heating and air-conditioning systems play a major role in the air quality of your home. Keep air filters clean and avoid fiberglass ducts. They tend to collect mold that's hard to remove. Metal ducts that are insulated on the outside, are the best choice. They're permanent and can be cleaned if needed.

Consider ways to dehumidify your home. Keeping relative humidity below 50 percent controls dust mites and mold contamination. To improve air quality in a house more than twenty years old, calk and seal all holes and gaps in walls and ceilings. Take out all the ceiling insulation and vacuum the area. Then reinsulate the ceiling using cotton or cellulose instead of fiberglass.

Making changes that improve the air in your home can help prevent illness and enhance your quality of life.