Indoor Air Quality Tips

For most home owners, the most important key to keep a home comfortable is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). That’s because the quality of the air in the home can create indoor air problems and can directly impact allergies, respiratory systems, general human health and even the actual health of the house structure itself. Yet there are differing opinions how to improve indoor air quality as well as the long-term effect of indoor air pollution.

What is Indoor Air Quality?

IAQ is the broad term used to judge the environmental quality of indoor air, whether good or bad and improving or waning. IAQ becomes an area of concern for many people when it takes a turn for the worse. Poor IAW in the home is also commonly referred to as "Sick House Syndrome".

What are the Causes of Indoor Air Pollution?

The most common IAQ problem is associated with the level of indoor airborne pollutants. Airborne pollutants are generally divided into two classes:

1. Particle matter (such as plant, animal, mineral, pollen, mold, dust mites, lead, asbestos, soot, smoke, manmade dust, etc.)
2. Gas (combustion products, natural gas, propane, radon and vapor outgassed from building materials or household products)

The micron size of a pollutant particle determines it's affect on the Indoor Air Quality. The relative humidity of the indoor air also determines how a particle will act in the indoor environment.

Particle Air Pollution

While may be numerous reasons for chronic health problems related to poor indoor air quality, "particulate pollution" is by far the most common. There may be up to a hundred or more different particles which can cause chronic or accute health symptoms in humans. Even pets are not impervious to the adverse health effects of too many airborne particles. It is paramount that particles be controlled through proper filtration and cleaning methods.

Good IAQ Requires Being Proactive

The key to indoor air pollution prevention is literally being consistent in your efforts to control the indoor environment with proper knowledge combined with the correct technology.

While perfect indoor air is virtually impossible, it is certainly possible to attain good IAQ. Making your home your haven is a direct outcome of maintaining good IAQ and can be achieved by learning about IAQ combined with ongoing proactive measures.

The Continuous IAQ Model illustrates the ongoing measures needed to maintain good Indoor Air Quality.

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