Outdoor pollutants can enter your home through window cracks, unsealed flooring, baseboards and entryways; managing these conditions will help improve your indoor air quality in Palm Desert, CA. Common everyday activities contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ), and some you probably haven’t considered. Read on to learn about four potential ways you could be lowering your home’s IAQ.
1. Inconsistent Pet Grooming
Pet hair and dander on furniture, flooring and inside floor vents can produce unpleasant smells, but consistent pet grooming can reduce these allergens in the home. As your pet scratches, flea dust gets on everything and could fall into your floor vents, so you should keep them on a consistent flea and tick regimen. Vets recommend monthly grooming for most dogs and cats; however, they recommend more frequent grooming appointments for long-haired pets for reducing dirt and outdoor allergens that could get trapped deep in their fur.
2. Smoking or Vaping Indoors
Smoking and vaping indoors can lead to sick building syndrome (SBS) and some symptoms you may experience, including fatigue, allergies, throat irritation, itching skin, migraines and dizziness. Although smoking risks are common knowledge, vaping releases substances, including toluene, isoprene, propylene glycol and formaldehyde, into the air, increasing risks to non-vapers. Seasonal duct cleaning and HVAC cleaning can reduce the risk of SBS and remove harmful toxins from your system.
3. Air Fresheners and Cleaning Products
According to the Environmental Working Group, you should minimize your use of cleaning products and air fresheners containing volatile organic compounds since they release chemical into the air through process known as off-gassing. They also recommend using candles and incense outdoors or opening a door or window for proper ventilation since these products can release dangerous pollutants in your home. An air cleaner is a safer alternative to these products; you can review new air cleaners with your preferred HVAC technicians when scheduling HVAC installation services.
4. Using Products Containing PFAS
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may pose a serious risk to people and animals, and you may use these products daily, including stain or water repellants to protect your carpet or upholstery and non-stick cookware. Decreasing the use of these products could lower your risks and keep these toxins out of the air.
Improving indoor air quality often requires lifestyle changes and investing in routine HVAC services, and understanding how bad habits affect everyone is often the catalyst for improvements. Smoking, vaping and overuse of cleaning and air-refreshing products release harmful toxins that linger in the air. Contact Vic’s Air Conditioning Service in Palm Desert, CA, for recommendations for improving your indoor home’s IAQ.
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