Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

Let's face it: often, you don’t notice the quality of your home’s indoor air. But do you know that poor indoor air quality triggers respiratory problems? And it's estimated that 90% of Americans spend most of their time indoors, where air pollutants are five times more concentrated than in the open air.

While your home might make you feel cozy during the chillier months of the year, damp air can exacerbate problems for people suffering from allergies, especially as new homes are becoming more air-tight to conserve energy. But this definitely affects the quality of indoor air and disables its ability to regenerate, unless there are ventilation and purification systems in place. 

In this post, we'll discuss the things we can do to improve indoor air quality. 

How can I improve my home’s indoor air quality?

Change your HVAC filters

According to a study from Harvard Medical School, most of the things that trigger allergies are odorless. Think about that. If your home has a recent air conditioning system, it works to give you  cool and clean air by filtering out pollutants. So, to keep your home’s air clean and free of pollutants, you should change the HVAC filters regularly. 

The general practice is to change the air filters every 30 days. 

Invest in an air purifier

Air purifiers range from simple tabletop and even wearable models to sophisticated whole-house systems. But the quality of the purifier is not based only its durability. Its quality also depends on how effectively it removes the airborne contaminants, the affordability of replacing filters or parts, and how easily you can maintain it. If you're looking for a reliable, high quality, whole house air purifier, you can't go wrong with the EcoQuest brand. 

EcoQuest use filters, plus other effective processes borrowed from nature. So they can effectively regenerate indoor air as well nature regenerates outdoor air, eliminating most odors, airborne particles and other atmospheric pollutants. Also, these purifiers have an optional sanitation mode, which helps you stay safe by removing:

• Microbes

• Viruses, and

• Mold.

You can choose the product that best suits your home here

Another advantage of using EcoQuest is its ozonation option. Ozonation removes unpleasant odors caused by pets, smoke, perfumes, sweat, alcohol, mold, etc. And the Sanitation mode allows you to achieve the desired effect in the fastest way: just carry the sanitation/ozonation equipment to an empty room and use it. 

Keep reading to learn more about the basics of air purification. 

Where should I place my air purifier to be most effective?

Well, answering this question is not as simple as it might seem to be. It depends on the main method of air purification. Most air purifiers use an air filtering method including multi-level filtration, HEPA filters, filtration with ionization or UV light disinfection, but we’re still talking about filtration process as their major purification method. Filtration means that as air passes through the filters inside the air purifier they are processed and purified. The surrounding air is not processed. This is why a filtering-based air purifier should be placed in the commonly used areas closest to you, to best capture air with the pollutants in that. Remember, those pollutants can trigger respiratory diseases or allergy symptoms. 

A better option is to use filterless air purifiers, such as the EcoQuest air purifiers, which are most effective when placed on higher surfaces or shelves near the ventilation (air) inflow. This allows the maximum spreading of air around the cleaning micro-elements. EcoQuest air purifiers clean the airflow that is passing through the unit, and they generate ionization, ozone and hydroperoxide molecules that actively eliminate airborne contaminants in the entire space they purify.  

How can I purify the air in my home naturally?

Do you know there are natural ways to clean the air in your home? Instead of running your air purifier, you can get rid of impure air without spending a fortune. And there are no simpler, easier and cheaper way than to open the windows!

Just Open your windows

This is perhaps the simplest and easiest way to improve your home’s indoor air quality. When you open the windows, you'll notice a change in the air you breathe, and it's more effective than you might think. If you don't air out your home, molecules from household chemicals build up. Also, if you use scented aerosol sprays, their pollutants can affect the air you breathe. Therefore, you should open the windows for at least 10 minutes to get rid of the harmful air, even in the colder months.

More importantly, pay special attention to your kitchen if you use a gas stove. 

Opening the windows will help — unless the outdoor air is more polluted than the indoor air. Unfortunately, in most cities, the outdoor air quality is very poor.

Use essential oils

Burning essential oils in your home offers some natural benefits. To receive the benefit of their scents, you can use different burners around your home. Some oils that have proven effective at eliminating dust mites are:

• Lavender

• Clove, and

• Eucalyptus.

If your air purifier produces ozone and hydroperoxides, they are also very effective against dust mites and bad odors. 

Use natural cleaners

If you use artificial cleaners in your home, it's time to switch to natural products like baking soda and white vinegar to fight grime. Another good option is hydrogen peroxide, as it cleans without the residual effects of chemicals. This is why the hydroperoxide ions are proven to be very effective for cleaning  contaminants in the air and on surfaces. Choosing an air purifier with hydroperoxides will help you clean the air and the surfaces in the room.

Beeswax candles

Homeowners can enjoy cleaner air by using beeswax candles instead of paraffin candles. Paraffin candles do not eliminate air contaminants when they are burning. So remember that beeswax is able to neutralize these compounds and ionize the air. 

Indoor plants

There are different types of plants that can help you deal with air pollutants, and some require very little sunlight and water. These plants ensure your home receives natural air. Some of the popular houseplants are:

• Snake

• Weeping fig, and

• Peace lily.

By having several plants in your home, you get rid of various volatile organic compounds. According to a study published by the American Society for Horticultural Science, spider plants can reduce nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide at home. 

Use Himalayan Salt lamps

They help to pull toxins from the air, acting as more than a night-light. 

Keep pets groomed

If you own a few pets, you’re likely to find fur everywhere in your home. Generally, pet dander can cause or exacerbate asthma. If you want to keep housecleaning to a minimum, groom your pets regularly. 

Final thoughts

Purifying the air inside your home is a surefire way to reduce the chemicals your family is exposed to. While the tips listed above will keep indoor air cleaner, using an EcoQuest air purifier will keep allergens at bay. Remember, a cleaner house is a healthier house.