Why an Energy-Efficient House Can Affect Air Quality and How to Make It Better 

Residences today are constructed with energy efficiency in mind. This involves extra insulation and tightly sealed doors and windows to keep heating and cooling costs reasonable. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for your indoor air quality. 

Because air has decreased chances to escape, contaminants can accumulate and impact your house’s indoor air quality. In actuality, your house’s air can actually be 2–5 times worse than the outdoors, according to the EPA. That’s not good for anyone, but it’s especially detrimental for loved ones with allergies, asthma, other respiratory concerns or heart disease. 

Let’s go over some of these common contaminants and how you can enhance your house’s indoor air quality. 

6 Common Pollutants that Affect Indoor Air Quality 

When you picture pollutants, you may think about smog or tobacco smoke. But lots of substances that impact your air quality are everyday substances. These things contain chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. 

They involve: 

1. Cleaning products, like aerosol sprays, bleach and window cleaner. 

2. Personal care products, including hairspray, perfume and nail products. 

3. Candles and air fresheners. 

4. Formaldehyde, which is frequently used in plastic, foam and particleboard products. 

5. Furniture, window treatments and carpet, especially when they’re brand new. 

6. Paints and stains. 

Other everyday pollutants include: 

• Dust 
• Pet dander 

• Pollen 
• Mold 

Symptoms of VOC Exposure 

Some people are more affected by VOCs than others. The EPA says symptoms of VOC exposure entail: 

• Irritated eyes, nose or throat 

• Headaches 
• Dizziness 
• Fatigue 

In bad situations, the EPA says VOCs are linked to respiratory and heart diseases. 

4 Ways to Enhance Your House’s Indoor Air Quality 

It isn’t hard to boost your house’s air quality. Here are several ideas from Harvard Medical School: 

1. Clean Your House Frequently 

Regularly cleaning and washing surfaces that attract allergens, including furniture, carpet and bedding, will help cut down on dust, dust mites and pet dander in your house. 

2. Routinely Switch Your Air Filter 

This essential filter keeps your house comfy and air healthy. How often you should change your air filter depends on the kind of filter you install. Flat filters should be replaced every month, while pleated filters should be replaced every three months. If you don’t know if your filter should be replaced, pull it out and tilt it to the light. Get a new one if you can’t see light through it. 

If someone in your house deals with allergies or asthma, we advise having a filter with a better MERV rating. The higher the number this is, the better your filter is at eliminating contaminants. 

3. Enhance Natural Ventilation 

Keep fresh air circulating by opening windows whenever the temperature allows. We also advise running exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen frequently to get rid of pollutants and draw in more fresh air. 

4. Call Our Indoor Air Quality Pros 

From whole-home air purifiers, Peachtree Service Experts has a fix to help your household breathe better. We’ll help you find the ideal option during your free home comfort assessment. Give us a call at 678-235-9699 to request yours now!