As our homes become more and more energy efficient, we have not only succeeded in making our homes air tight t save energy costs, but have also succeeded in blocking any natural ventilation to allow chemicals, pet dander, dust and other household allergens and pollutants to escape. Its rare these days for anyone to simply throw open the windows and "air out the house" on a regular basis. Little did we realize how beneficial that simple season changing activity was in the past.
Today's family suffers much more bouts of cold, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia and other upper respiratory problems, not to mention an increased rate in asthma and allergies. Why? The simple answer may be that the air we breathe both inside and outside of our homes is s full of allergens and pollutants that our bodies simply can not free itself of these angers and is paying the ultimate price: the ability to breathe easy.
Some of the most dangerous pollutant culprits which are causing a variety of these respiratory afflictions among our families include:
Household Odors and Gases:
Kitty litter dust, tobacco smoke, indoor pesticides and aerosols, among others can all cause mild to serious breathing problems when exposure is commonplace.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's):
Found in a wide variety of household products including paint, varnish, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, glues and adhesives in carpeting and furniture. Ingredients such as benzene, chloride, formaldehyde, and ethylene can all irritate the eyes, nose, throat and airways. Severe chronic health conditions such as damage to the nervous system may result in some people.
Microorganisms:
Antigens, pathogens, bacteria, mold and viruses can all be found in the air we breathe and make us sick.
So, now that you understand the importance of clean air, what's the best way to combat the effects of modern-day pollutants? The best thing, experts agree, is to install a good quality air purifier in your home and office to help strip these dangerous pollutants from your living and working areas. Good ventilation is also recommended with a regular airing out of your home.
Quiet Clean Air Purifier
One of the problems is today's homes are such tight specifications what gets in can not get out. They are more energy efficient than 20 years ago but that also increases home pollution. You're conserving energy but you're polluting your home.
Your strict cleaning routine may make the use of an air purifier even more important. This is because of the cleaning solutions and chemicals that you are using.
An air purifier is a device which aims to free air from contaminants. The popularity of air purifiers spur from the results from environment researches which claim that the air inside homes are dirtier than the air outside of homes.
Here are some other reasons that your home may be polluted without an air purifier. The family pet is a very big source of home pollution since pet dander contains allergens. Having an air purifier in the rooms that the pets stay is very beneficial. If you allow them in your bedroom run an air purifier constantly and wash your bedding daily if possible. Vacuum several times a week and run your air purifier on high for several minutes after you get finished with the vacuum.
Forced air furnaces are also a culprit as they re-circulate dirt, often containing allergens from pet dander and other airborne pollutants. Changing the filters of whole house filters in the spring and fall is a must, and it is even better if you add electrostatic filters to them.
Continuous room fresheners are another source of home pollutants that an air purifier would be able to assist you with removing.
Tobacco is another very common pollutant that also has some severe health risks. If at all possible smokers should go outside. At the very least they should smoke in non key areas of the home. Air purifiers are particularly beneficial for those who wish to reduce second-hand smoke.
Outside pollutants that have entered such as industrial discharged particles, gases, and other odor associated with industry. These pollutants have entered and have no way to escape so you are breathing them with each and every breath.
The type of home air purifiers that you use depends on which kinds of home pollutants you're most worried about. Different air purifiers work on different types of pollutants. Some are better with removing air borne particles and others are better as absorbing odors, cleaning chemical smell and gases. Some of your high end air purifiers will do a equally good job with all types of indoor pollutants.
Home air purifiers (particularly those with HEPA technology and activated carbon) can be of great assistance. By placing a high quality unit in your bedrooms and main living areas, your home will be as clean as it looks. It will also be healthier since the air purifiers have taken the majority of allergens out of the air you are breathing.
Both Matthew Hick & Heather Colman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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