feb 3

Did you know that the air inside your home can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside? Yikes! That’s why it’s essential to be aware of the most common types of indoor air pollutants and take steps to reduce them. 

 

In this blog post, we will discuss five of the most common types of indoor air pollutants and how you can reduce them. 

 

Formaldehyde

One of the most common types of indoor air pollutants is formaldehyde. This gas can be emitted from various sources, including pressed wood products, adhesives, insulation, and carpeting. Formaldehyde can cause eye irritation, respiratory problems, and skin rashes. To reduce your exposure to formaldehyde, you should ensure your home is well ventilated and replace pressed wood products with other materials.

 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Another type of indoor air pollutant is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted from paints, pesticides, cleaning supplies, adhesives, permanent markers, and more. VOCs can cause eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and other health problems. To reduce VOC exposure in your home or office building, use low-VOC products whenever possible and ventilate rooms when using these types of products.

 

Radon Gas

This naturally occurring gas is a known carcinogen that comes from the ground and can enter the home through cracks in the foundation, basement walls, or crawl space. Radon gas exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers each year in America. To reduce your risk of radon exposure, have your home tested for radon levels and take steps to ventilate any rooms where there are high levels of this gas.

 

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a byproduct of burning fuels such as natural gas, kerosene, gasoline, and propane. It’s colorless and odorless, so it can be difficult to detect in your home or office building unless you have an alarm system installed that detects this gas. CO exposure can cause flu-like symptoms, chest pain, and even death. To reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure you have a working CO alarm installed in your home and never use portable generators or charcoal grills indoors.

 

Particulate Matter (PM)

Last on our list of common indoor air pollutants is particulate matter (PM). These tiny particles can come from various sources, including tobacco smoke, cooking fumes, fires, and construction or demolition activities. PM can cause eye irritation, respiratory problems, and heart disease. To reduce your exposure to PM, make sure you have good ventilation in your home and avoid smoking indoors.

 

By following these simple tips, you can reduce your exposure to some of the most common types of indoor air pollutants. It’s important to have your HVAC system checked regularly to extend your unit’s lifespan and ensure you have the proper unit for your space. 

 

The VIP Plan from Air Rescue is designed with these needs in mind. Whether you have one unit or many units at your business, this plan will ensure that all equipment is well-maintained by our expert technicians, who know how to get the job done right!