Most people spend significant time indoors, such as being at work, school, and home. As a result of the amount of time spent indoors, the quality of the air people breathe should be a major concern for everyone. Poor quality of indoor air may significantly reduce the comfort of the home while also adversely affecting the health of those occupying such spaces. Some of the side consequences of poor indoor air quality include eye irritation, heart and respiratory conditions, runny nose, dizziness, and fatigue, among many others. These effects are enhanced for people with respiratory ailments such as asthma. This article highlights ways through which indoor air quality can be improved to avert the impact of poor air indoors. It identifies the types of natural plants suitable for indoor usage, the significance of keeping the furnace blower on and using air filters & dehumidifiers as a strategy to improve the quality of indoor air.
Types of Natural Plants Recommended for Indoor Usage
Numerous natural plants can be used indoors to improve air quality. A study conducted by NASA in 1989 established that specific indoor plants improve the quality of air indoors by absorbing harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene (Steeman, 2019). Thus, a variety of indoor plants could be used as natural air filters. English ivy is one of the appropriate plants that can be used indoors. When planted indoors, English ivy can purify the air as it is good at absorbing mold in the room (Doherty, 2017). This plant can absorb airborne molds. Boston ferns are recommended for indoor use because they purify the air in the home (Doherty, 2017). NASA recommends this plant because it purifies the air by removing compounds such as formaldehyde, plastics, or cigarette smoke from the air. This plant absorbs these compounds through its leaves and converts them into materials it can use. Snake plants are appropriate for indoor use since they filter out nauseating chemicals such as benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and toluene (Geller, 2019). Thus, different plants can improve the conditions of the indoor environment, especially by containing harmful gases.
Importance of Keeping the Furnace Blower On
Furnace blower presents numerous benefits in the room when kept on all the time. For instance, keeping the fan running all the time enhances the circulation of air in the room, whether heated or cooled (Synergy Home, 2019). A running furnace blower continuously sucks the cold air from the lower parts of the room or lower floors in multi-story buildings. It mixes it with warmer air from the upper spaces, combining the two, consequently redistributing a more stable, even temperature all over the room. Different parts of a room experience varying external temperatures in the day, often based on the location of the sun. Areas facing the sun are usually warmer, while the side not reached by the sun’s rays remains cold. This situation causes varying temperatures in the room, but using a furnace blower in such a room brings average temperatures throughout the indoor space.
Air Filters & Dehumidifiers
Air filters and dehumidifiers are essential equipment in improving the indoor environment. Air filters are devices that help get rid of harmful substances such as dust mites, mold, and pollen, among other particulates from rooms. They make indoor areas free from substances that can harm the health of the occupiers (University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, 2019). These devices are helpful for people with asthma or severe allergies because they minimize the symptoms of these conditions. Dehumidifiers are equipment that reduce the adverse effects of moisture in the indoor environment. These devices eliminate the moisture from the air without decreasing the overall temperature in the room (Kolenda Heating & Cooling, 2019). The removal of moisture boosts the health and comfort of all in the room and minimizes damage in the home, including averting cold and rusting of metallic surfaces.
Conclusion
Indoor air quality is essential since the majority of people spend most of their time indoors. As a result, there is a need to improve air quality indoors. Both natural and artificial options can be used to improve indoor air quality. For instance, plants such as English ivy, Boston ferns, and snake plants can eliminate harmful gases and substances such as cigarette smoke, mold, formaldehyde, and plastics. Equipment such as furnace blower can help improve the quality of indoor air by blending the air of different temperatures in a house, keeping it suitable for occupation. Air filters and dehumidifiers are also effective improvers of indoor air quality since the former removes harmful substances such as dust mites, mold, and pollen, while the latter eliminates moisture indoors.
Hopefully you’ve gained some valuable knowledge from this post. If you have any further questions or would like to have one of our seasoned technicians come out and take a look at your unit, please feel free to contact the Aloha Air Conditioning office Toll-Free today at 855-88-ALOHA (25642).