Why an Energy-Efficient Home Can Impact Air Quality and How to Improve It 

Houses today are constructed with energy efficiency in mind. This entails extra insulation and tightly sealed doors and windows to keep heating and cooling costs down. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your indoor air quality. 

Since air has reduced chances to escape, contaminants can accumulate and impact your home’s indoor air quality. In reality, your home’s air can actually be 2–5 times more unhealthy than the outdoors, according to the EPA. That’s not good for anyone, but it’s especially detrimental for loved ones with allergies, asthma, other respiratory disorders or heart disease. 

Let’s discuss some of these everyday contaminants and how you can boost your home’s indoor air quality. 

6 Common Pollutants that Affect Indoor Air Quality 

When you picture pollutants, you may think about smog or tobacco smoke. But many substances that impact your air quality are common substances. These things have chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. 

They involve: 

1. Cleaning products, including aerosol sprays, bleach and window cleaner. 

2. Personal care products, such as hairspray, perfume and nail products. 

3. Candles and air fresheners. 

4. Formaldehyde, which is frequently used in plastic, foam and particleboard products. 

5. Furniture, window treatments and carpet, especially when they’re brand new. 

6. Paints and stains. 

Other everyday pollutants include: 

• Dust 
• Pet dander 

• Pollen 
• Mold 

Symptoms of VOC Exposure 

Some people are more affected by VOCs than others. The EPA says symptoms of VOC exposure entail: 

• Irritated eyes, nose or throat 

• Headaches 
• Dizziness 
• Fatigue 

In bad instances, the EPA says VOCs can lead to respiratory and heart diseases. 

4 Ways to Enhance Your House’s Indoor Air Quality 

It isn’t hard to improve your home’s air quality. Here are a few ideas from Harvard Medical School: 

1. Clean Your House Frequently 

Regularly cleaning and washing surfaces that attract allergens, such as furniture, carpet and bedding, will help cut down on dust, dust mites and pet dander in your house. 

2. Regularly Replace Your Air Filter 

This essential filter keeps your house comfy and air fresh. How often you should change your air filter depends on the kind of filter you use. Flat filters should be replaced every month, while pleated filters should be replaced every three months. If you’re not sure if your filter should be replaced, remove it and tilt it to the light. Get a new one if you can’t see light through it. 

If someone in your house deals with allergies or asthma, we advise having a filter with a better MERV rating. The bigger the number this is, the better your filter is at eliminating contaminants. 

3. Improve Natural Ventilation 

Keep fresh air in your home by opening windows whenever the temperature allows. We also advise running exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen frequently to get rid of pollutants and introduce more fresh air. 

4. Chat Our Indoor Air Quality Pros 

From whole-home air purifiers, A-Plus has a resolution to help your household breathe better. We’ll help you select the right option during your free home comfort assessment. Contact us at 301-747-3140 to schedule yours now!