Indoor air is likely a lot dirtier than you think it is. A recent survey commissioned by 3M confirmed the widespread lack of public awareness about the poor state of indoor air quality (IAQ). Why is this important? If homeowners know their indoor air is polluted, they can take steps to remedy the problem. Conversely, if they’re not aware of poor IAQ, they won’t do anything about it.
The Survey’s Findings
The survey found that while dirty indoor air has been ranked as one of the top five environmental risks to public health, 39 percent of homeowners don’t regularly change the air filters in their forced-air HVAC system. Half of the respondents were unaware that the air inside their homes, on average, is two to five times dirtier than the air outside, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Most were also unaware of the simple steps to reduce indoor air pollution.
Road Map for Cleaner Air
- Inspect the HVAC air filter every month and promptly change it when it looks dirty. This will not only help IAQ, but it will also improve energy efficiency and overall system performance.
- Avoid using products with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Use natural products instead.
- Make sure your home is well ventilated not only with kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, but also with strategic natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation systems that ensure a steady exchange of stale indoor air with fresh outside air.
- Clean your house regularly, paying particular attention to effective dust removal. Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly to get rid of dust mites, cloth fibers and other dust constituents; vacuum regularly; minimize the display of dust-collecting knickknacks and other small display objects; and avoid the use of dry cloths and feather dusters for cleaning, as they just move dust around.
- Add more house plants to your home. These can neutralize and remove VOCs and other pollutants, and make your home more attractive.
Useful tactics to reduce indoor air pollution abound. Contact us today at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning for more information. We provide quality service in the Twin Cities metro area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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