Environmental issues such as smog, toxins, and allergens can challenge your breathing. Each of these ailments can be found in your everyday atmosphere and can harm your ability to breathe clean and fresh air. While it may seem overwhelming to decide where to start protecting your home’s air quality, there are significant changes you can make to have a positive impact.
Identify Air Quality Concerns Based on Where You Live
According to this article by Kitchen & Bath Business, over 81% of individuals have a level of concern about air quality when looking for a home. Air quality is something that residents want to be aware of, which is why it’s important to know what concerns there are where you live so you can address them. Knowing air quality in a residential area is as important as knowing what kind of amenities and facilities are available for a community. A significant part of your life is at home, and the air around your home has the potential to impact your quality of life. Air quality issues can vary depending on where you live, so make sure to identify concerns unique to your living situation.
Here are some possible air quality concerns based on your specific area or surroundings:
Urban Areas:
- The threat of smog is a major concern in urban areas due to heavy traffic and industrial activity.
- Especially during the summer months, you might have to stay inside more frequently due to high smog levels.
Suburban Areas:
- Suburban areas tend to have more outdoor space for gardening.
- Outdoor allergens, such as pollen or mold, can enter your home from a backyard garden.
Unique Surroundings:
- The threat of natural disasters like wildfires in your community can contribute to toxic air flows.
- Living near a busy highway or roadway likely means a greater level of motorists traveling near your neighborhood that can contribute to harmful emissions that enter the air.
When you’re aware of what air quality concerns exist where you live, you can be better informed to take the next steps to protect your home’s air quality.
Take Action to Protect Your Home’s Air Quality
The World Health Organization notes that the world population lives mostly in areas where pollution is above recommended levels. Each individual surrounding comes with different concerns for the safety of what you are breathing in at home. You may feel that fixing harmful air quality will take too much time and effort, but home improvement projects for improving air are not always overwhelming or time-consuming.
Here are a few tips on how to better protect your home’s air quality:
- Replace old carpets or older home furnishings
Updating your furniture and decor will help to eliminate potential areas for allergens from dust mites or pet dander.
- Check on your HVAC system
Ensure your filters and ducts are changed and cleaned annually to avoid any harmful dust that could harm your home’s air quality.
- Use an air purifier
Air purifiers have the ability to reduce harmful components from remaining in the air. You can monitor air quality throughout your home with the support of our Venta Home app.
- Add new houseplants
A house plant is good for your overall well-being and also can help clean the air around your home.
- Select New Windows
Getting new windows for areas of the home with poor ventilation can better allow more fresh air to enter the indoors and improve airflow.
Decide on Next Steps
Now that you’ve read through tips on improving your air quality, it would be smart to make a list of what improvements you want to implement in your own home. Tackle each list item one at a time, and separate them into short-term and long-term goals. Adding more house plants to your home is something you can do on a weekend, whereas replacing older furniture or updating your windows might take more time, as well as a financial investment. Working to get rid of what may be the toxic source of air in the home could require the assistance of professional experts, so it’s important to do your research and take your time on larger projects.
As far as the financial aspect, the investment to improve your home’s air quality will be worth it long term. Research costs and make a plan that works with your budget. You might be able to afford some updates right away, whereas other large projects might take more planning. If you decide to look into financing options, you might consider the benefits of using a line of credit vs. a credit card for certain projects.
Protecting the air quality in your home is important for your health and well-being. Be aware of your surroundings, and identify the right steps to take in your home to ensure better air quality. There are options that can make a large impact on your everyday life, so do your research and get started!