How to improve your indoor air quality?

Air Quality

By Verda Vento
|
27 December

We spend alot of time indoors, yet we don't care much about the environment indoors. Improve your indoor air quality for a healthier home. Discover easy tips to create a harmonious living space and breathe in fresh, clean air!

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook a crucial element that profoundly impacts our well-being—indoor air quality. The air we breathe within the confines of our homes plays a pivotal role in our overall health, yet it’s a facet of our living environment often taken for granted. As we spend a significant portion of our time indoors, understanding and improving indoor air quality becomes imperative for creating a healthy and harmonious living space.

As we investigate indoor air quality, we’ll share easy tips, and cool ideas that give you the power to make the air in your home better. Whether you already know a lot about staying healthy or you’re just starting to think about indoor air quality, this blog post is here to help you make your living space a healthy and happy place. Get ready to explore the world of breathing in fresh, clean air!

What is indoor air quality?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a measure of the air within enclosed spaces, such as homes or buildings, and how these conditions impact the health and comfort of the occupants. It encompasses a range of factors, including the presence of pollutants, humidity levels, and the efficiency of ventilation systems. Optimal indoor air quality indicates that the air is clean, without any harmful contaminants, and helps to keep a healthy and comfortable environment for those inside.

These are the elements that contribute to the indoor air quality:

Particulate Matter (PM): Minute particles like dust, pollen, and pet hairs that can be suspended in the air.
Gases and Chemicals: Emissions from household products, construction materials, and other sources that can influence air quality.
Biological Contaminants: Microorganisms such as mold, bacteria, and viruses that may proliferate indoors.
Radon: A naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter buildings from the ground.
Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless gas resulting from incomplete combustion of fuels.

How important is it to improve indoor air quality?

Maintaining good indoor air quality is vital for promoting the well-being of occupants. Bad indoor air quality can lead to various health issues, including respiratory problems and headaches, but can also lead to concentration problems. Given that a substantial amount of time is spent indoors by many individuals, ensuring good indoor air quality is essential for overall health and comfort. This typically involves practices such as effective ventilation, air purification, and minimizing sources of indoor pollutants.

Allergy Season

Allergy season is the time of year when certain things in the air, like pollen from trees, grass, and weeds, can make people feel sick. This happens at different times depending on where you live and the kinds of plants around.

How does the allergy season affect people?

Sneezing and Runny Nose: Allergies can make you sneeze a lot and have a runny or stuffy nose. Your nose and eyes might also feel itchy.
Trouble Breathing: For some people with asthma, allergies can make it harder to breathe. It can cause coughing, wheezing, and a tight feeling in the chest.
Itchy and Watery Eyes: Allergies can make your eyes red, itchy, and watery.
Skin Problems: Some people might get red, itchy skin or rashes because of allergies.
Feeling Tired: Allergies can make you feel tired and uncomfortable.

How to improve your indoor air quality?

Improving indoor air quality is essential for creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment. Here are some practical tips to enhance indoor air quality:

Regular Ventilation:
- Ensure proper ventilation by opening windows and doors when weather permits.
- Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to expel indoor pollutants and clean them regularly.
Air Purifiers:
- Invest in air purifiers with HEPA filters to trap and remove airborne particles and allergens.

Regular Cleaning:
- Dust and vacuum regularly to minimize the accumulation of dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens.
- Clean and change air filters in HVAC systems according to manufacturer recommendations. See Aircon servicing in Cape Town.

Humidity Control:
- Keep indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% to prevent the growth of mold and dust mites.
- Use the dehumidification or dry function on your aircon in damp areas to control excess moisture dehumidifiers in damp areas to control excess moisture.

Reduce Tobacco Smoke:
- Avoid smoking indoors, as tobacco smoke is a major indoor air pollutant.
- Designate outdoor smoking areas to prevent smoke from infiltrating indoor spaces.

Limit VOCs:
- Choose low-VOC (volatile organic compound) or VOC-free products, such as paints, cleaning supplies, and furniture.
- Allow new items, like furniture and carpets, to off-gas in well-ventilated areas before bringing them indoors.

Houseplants:
- Incorporate indoor plants known for air-purifying qualities, such as snake plants, spider plants, or peace lilies.
- Plants can help remove certain pollutants and enhance indoor air quality.

Avoid Synthetic Fragrances:
- Opt for fragrance-free or naturally scented products to reduce exposure to synthetic fragrances that can contribute to indoor air pollution.

Regular Maintenance:
- Ensure proper maintenance of heating and cooling systems, including regular inspections and cleanings.
- Fix water leaks promptly to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.

By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can create a healthier indoor environment and reduce the risk of respiratory issues associated with poor indoor air quality.

What can I buy to improve my indoor air quality?

Buy a Daikin Air Purifier MC55W with HEPA filter:

Daikin air purifiers are designed to reduce asthma and allergy symptoms by eliminating dust particles and pollen from the air. They contribute to overall health by filtering out airborne bacteria and viruses through their advanced HEPA filter and Flash Streamer technology. They are the perfect air purifiers to improve your indoor air quality.

What sets the Daikin Air Purifier apart as the top choice in South Africa?

Proven to reduce allergies: as per the South African Allergy Foundation, Daikin’s air purifiers are known to reduce allergens in the air.
Remove viruses and bacteria: Daikin has extensively tested their air purifiers and they are able to reduce 99.99% of viruses and bacteria in a short space of time.
Long-Lasting Filter: Daikin’s air purifier boasts a HEPA filter with a guarantee of +10 years. Unlike traditional purifiers that require filter changes every six months, this longevity means a Daikin air purifier pays for itself over time.
Whisper-Quiet Operation: Daikin air purifiers operate quietly, producing only 19dBa, which is as hushed as a whisper. The low noise level makes it an ideal choice for bedrooms, ensuring that you won’t even notice the unit is running.
Compact Design, Powerful Performance: Despite its compact size, Daikin air purifiers have the capability to clean areas up to 82m², providing effective purification in a space-efficient package.

Buy a Daikin Emura or Perfera air conditioner unit:

Both the Emura and Perfera aircon are fitted with Flash Streamer technology and a Silver allergen purifying filter. They are the perfect air conditioners to improve your indoor air quality.

Flash streamer: using electrons to trigger chemical reactions with airborne particles, the Flash Streamer removes allergens such as pollen and fungal allergens, eliminating unpleasant odours and providing better, cleaner air. And the titanium apatite deodorising filter works hard to combat smells such as tobacco smoke and pets.
The Silver allergen removal and air purifying filter is your solution, because it captures allergens such as pollen to ensure a steady supply of clean air.

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