What causes stale air? Stale air, at its root, is caused by a lack of ventilation. When air is confined to an enclosed room, pollutants, moisture and carbon dioxide can start to accumulate.
Prevailing wisdom is that at least 5 minutes—and ideally 15 to 20 minutes—a day of ventilation significantly improves indoor air quality. For a strong ventilation, open the front and back door, along with windows on the path in between, to get the baddies out.
WHAT HEALTH EFFECTS CAN BE CAUSED BY POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY? Occupants of homes with poor indoor air quality may complain of symptoms such as headache, eye irritation, fatigue, dry throat, sinus congestion, dizziness, and nausea.
Ventilation and shading can help control indoor temperatures. Ventilation also helps remove or dilute indoor airborne pollutants coming from indoor sources. This reduces the level of contaminants and improves indoor air quality (IAQ).
So how often should you open your windows? It's recommended that you do so once a day, for at least five minutes. Fifteen to 20 minutes is preferable. However, when you open them is also important.
Air purifiers are great at extracting stale air, filtering it, and emitting fresh, clean air into the home.
Air purifiers can refresh stale air, reducing the chances of health issues caused by indoor pollutants, which can trigger respiratory infections, neurological problems, or aggravate symptoms in asthma sufferers. Quality air purifiers eliminate several types of indoor air pollutants, keeping us healthy.
Stuffy air typically occurs in rooms that lack ventilation. Open windows and doors, or run your ventilation system if you have one. Some areas of the home may also need spot ventilation. Adding a bathroom or kitchen fan near the moisture or pollution source helps to solve common problems.
Beeswax and soy candles usually burn cleaner than paraffin wax. Furthermore, beeswax candles can actually clean your air by releasing some negative ions that easily bind with toxins to help eliminate them from your indoor air.
Vinegar, and more specifically white vinegar, is a great tool to use when you want to purify air in the home. There are several ways that you can use vinegar to help naturally clean the air in your home.
Potential risks of leaving your windows open at night
The biggest consideration is the safety and security of your home. If you leave your windows open, there is an increased chance that a criminal may use these to gain entry into your home. There is also the risk of a wild animal entering and causing property damage.
Keeping a window open reduced concentration of carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and some particulate matter in participant bedrooms. People slept better. Keeping a door open also reduced carbon dioxide concentration, without a direct correlation to improving sleep.
Yes. 'Ventilation is key to preventing mould growth,' says Jordan Chance, product manager at PlumbNation. 'Make sure to leave bathroom windows open for at least 10 minutes after showering and bathing in order to clear excess moisture from the atmosphere.
How does an air purifier work? An air purifier usually works by using a fan to draw in air from the room and force it through a set of filters, which trap pollutants like dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke particles, various chemicals, mould spores and germs. The cleaned air is then blown back out into the room.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products. Lead (Pb) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Air purifiers assist in eliminating household dust by helping clean the air at home. These machines are engineered with technology that traps dust before it settles on your furniture and floors. Opt for a HEPA air purifier that captures 99.97% of dust and particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Indoor Air and Dust Buildup
Another way to tell whether you have poor indoor air quality is if you see dust buildup around your home and collect around air vents. You may not spot buildup around areas you regularly clean, but keep a lookout for excess dust around your home. Also, check your air vents for dust buildup.
Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.
An air purifier is your best bet to improve indoor air quality and reduce allergens. A dehumidifier is a clear choice if you're concerned about high humidity levels and potential mold growth. However, if you live in a humid climate or the air in your home feels stifling, a dehumidifier can regulate the humidity level.