The quality of the air inside your home can vary from one day to the next and from one room to another. Understanding which rooms have poor air quality is important. You can use this information to improve your indoor air quality using whole-home filtration, humidity-controlling equipment, and more.
Bathroom Air Quality
The bathrooms in your home often have poor air quality because of the high levels of moisture typically found there. As you run your shower, bathtub, and faucets, you’re introducing moisture into the air. This moisture can then circulate into other areas of your home. High moisture content in the air results in higher concentrations of contaminants.
Most bathrooms have exhaust fans that you should run periodically each day. These fans remove humid air before it causes a problem. However, some fans aren’t powerful enough and will leave behind substantial humidity. Consider upgrading your fans or running them more often.
Mold commonly lurks in bathroom areas such as the underside of sinks (in cabinets), on tile and grout, and around toilets. Maintaining the bathroom’s humidity level to within the range of 35% and 50% is ideal to prevent mold growth. You should also keep surfaces dry after use, like countertops and shower walls.
Kitchen Air Quality
Kitchens tend to have high levels of particulate matter. When you cook, smoke particles accumulate in the air and circulate throughout the home. Even if you’re using the fan over your stove, this simply pushes particulates around. You need an exhaust fan or air filtration unit to physically remove the particulates.
If you have a gas stove or oven, this can negatively impact your home’s indoor air quality. These appliances emit nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde when combustion is incomplete.
Living Room Air Quality
It’s likely that people are frequently coming and going from your living room. This can introduce pollen, pet dander, and fragrances into your indoor air. Also, most homes have several windows in the living room area. If you live in an area where pollution is high, keeping windows open can negatively impact your home’s indoor air quality. If pollen levels are high outside, these particulates can come into your home through windows and doors.
Bedroom Air Quality
Bedrooms tend to have safer and cleaner air quality than other rooms. This is because there aren’t many sources of pollution. The most common contaminants in a bedroom are dust and dust mites. If you have pets, keep them out of your bedroom to minimize the presence of pet dander. Don’t use candles with fragrance or air fresheners, as this introduces volatile organic compounds into the air. If you have concerns or want a free indoor air quality assessment, contact Ace Home Services in Phoenix, AZ.