Purify Your Home: Reducing Indoor Air Pollution

Air pollution is not just an outdoor problem. In fact, a study by the Clean Air Day Campaign found that indoor air pollution can be much worse than outdoors. We spend around 90% of our time inside, so it's important to keep the air quality in your home as clean as possible. Here are some ways to reduce air pollution in your home:

Improve ventilation

Improving ventilation is one of the most effective ways to reduce indoor air pollution. Here are some detailed tips to help you enhance the ventilation in your home:

Natural Ventilation

Opening windows and doors is a simple yet effective way to improve air circulation and let in fresh air. This is known as natural ventilation and can be particularly useful when the weather is mild. However, it's important to be mindful of outdoor air quality before opting for natural ventilation. Avoid opening windows and doors if there is poor outdoor air quality, such as near busy highways, airports, or factories with high emissions. Additionally, if you live in an area prone to wildfires, keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke from entering your home.

Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation relies on fans and mechanical systems to improve air circulation. Ceiling fans, window fans, and attic fans can all help to increase the airflow in your home. Exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens are also essential, as they help remove moisture, gases, and other pollutants from these areas. Make sure to use exhaust fans while cooking or taking a bath, and continue running them for 30-45 minutes afterward.

Whole-House Ventilation Systems

If you're looking for a more advanced solution, consider investing in a whole-house ventilation system. These mechanical systems are designed to bring outdoor air into your home and improve overall ventilation. Some modern homes are now being built with energy-efficient heat recovery ventilators, which help mitigate the cost of heating and cooling the air. Consult a professional to explore options that best suit your home and budget.

Ventilation During Specific Activities

Certain activities, such as painting, welding, or sanding, can generate high levels of pollutants. Whenever possible, opt to do these activities outdoors in a well-ventilated area. If you must perform these tasks indoors, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated by opening windows, using fans, or even doing them under an exhaust fan, like the one in your kitchen.

Ventilation and Temperature Control

Ventilation plays a crucial role in controlling indoor temperatures. Proper ventilation can help moderate indoor air temperature, especially during hot weather or when air conditioning is unavailable. It also helps remove or dilute indoor airborne pollutants, improving the overall air quality in your home.

By implementing these ventilation strategies, you can effectively reduce indoor air pollution and create a healthier living environment for you and your family.

Use air cleaners/filtration

Using air cleaners and filtration is an effective way to improve indoor air quality. Here are some tips for utilising air cleaners and filtration to reduce air pollution in your home:

Types of Air Cleaners

Air cleaners come in various types and sizes, from tabletop models to whole-house systems. Portable air cleaners, also known as air purifiers or air sanitizers, are designed to filter the air in a single room or area. Central furnace or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) filters are designed to filter air throughout the home. When selecting a portable air cleaner, consider the size of the room and choose one with a suitable clean air delivery rate (CADR). Additionally, look for air cleaners with activated carbon filters to remove gaseous pollutants.

Maintenance and Replacement

All filters need regular replacement to maintain optimal performance. Refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for replacement intervals, which are typically every 6 to 12 months. If the filter appears heavily soiled before the recommended replacement time, it is advisable to change it sooner. Maintaining the air cleaner according to the manufacturer's directions is crucial for long-term performance.

Complementary Measures

Even the most powerful air cleaners may not reach every corner of a room. Consider using fans, such as ceiling fans or portable fans, to complement the air cleaner and ensure higher air quality. Additionally, pay attention to source control by reducing or eliminating individual sources of pollution. For example, avoid smoking indoors, minimise the use of harsh cleaning supplies, and ensure proper ventilation during activities that generate high levels of pollutants, such as painting or cooking.

Additional Features

Some air cleaners have smart features that allow control via smartphone apps. These apps may provide real-time air quality data, customisation options, and scheduling capabilities. When choosing an air cleaner, consider your specific needs and preferences, such as noise levels, energy efficiency, and the ability to remove specific types of pollutants.

Limitations

It is important to note that no air cleaner can eliminate all air pollutants from your home. They are designed to reduce indoor air pollution, but they cannot remove all contaminants from the air. Additionally, air cleaners are not a substitute for proper ventilation and source control. Ensure you take a comprehensive approach to improving indoor air quality by combining the use of air cleaners with other recommended strategies.

Avoid indoor smoking

Smoking indoors is a significant source of indoor air pollution. The smoke from cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products releases dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and benzene, which linger in the air for hours. These particles are so small that 85% of them are invisible and odourless, making them easily inhalable.

To avoid indoor smoking, it is best to step outside and avoid smoking near windows and doors. Even smoking under a fan or by an open window will not reduce the harm, as the smoke drifts and spreads throughout the house. If you must smoke, it is important to ask others to go outside as well, especially if they are children. Children are especially vulnerable to the toxins in second-hand smoke because their airways are smaller and they breathe faster, inhaling more toxic chemicals.

In addition to the immediate health risks, indoor smoking can also lead to third-hand smoke exposure. This occurs when harmful substances from cigarette smoke are absorbed into hair, body, clothing, furniture, and other surfaces, only to be released back into the air later. This increases the toxicity of the indoor environment, even when no one is actively smoking.

Quitting smoking is the best option for overall health and to completely eliminate the risks of indoor smoking. However, if quitting is not an option, there are still ways to minimise the impact on others. Smokers can step outside and avoid smoking near windows and doors to prevent second-hand smoke from drifting indoors. Using a fan or air purifier can also help to expel toxins, but it is important to note that these measures may not fully eliminate the risks.

Reduce mould and dampness

Mould and dampness are usually caused by excess moisture, which can be attributed to structural problems, ventilation problems, or a build-up of condensation. To reduce mould and dampness in your home, you should:

Improve Ventilation

• Open windows and doors to increase the amount of fresh outdoor air coming inside. Opening windows for at least 10 minutes each day can help air out your home and prevent a build-up of stale air.
• Use extractor fans and rangehoods to reduce humidity levels and expel moisture and toxic by-products from activities like cooking and showering. Ensure these fans are regularly cleaned and are big enough to be effective.
• Open curtains and blinds during the day to warm rooms up naturally and prevent moisture from being trapped around windows.
• Pull back bed covers each morning to allow moisture to escape, and open windows to provide an escape route for the moisture.
• Leave wardrobes slightly open to allow a little air circulation, which will help prevent mould from growing on fabrics.
• Move furniture away from walls, especially external walls, to discourage mould growth. A gap of 10cm will help.

Reduce Moisture

• Use lids on pots and pans when cooking to prevent steam from escaping.
• Dry clothes outside, as this will release excess moisture outdoors rather than inside your home.
• If drying clothes indoors, place them on a clothes horse near an open window or in a room with an extractor fan.
• Use a squeegee to remove excess water from shower walls, reducing moisture in your bathroom.
• Seal the grout in your shower with a standard sealer to prevent moisture from leaking through the tiles.
• Use a dehumidifier to reduce the level of humidity in the air.
• Use energy-efficient, low-emission heaters to heat rooms to at least 18°C.
• Check for leaks in plumbing pipes, roofing, and windows, and fix any issues to prevent water damage and excess moisture.

Choose hard-surface floors

Carpeted floors can act as a reservoir for dust, dirt, pollen, mould spores, pesticides, and other materials, which may originate indoors or be brought into the indoor environment from outside. Inadequate maintenance can allow large quantities of dust and debris to build up in carpets, and some studies indicate that poorly maintained carpeting can release significant quantities of particles into the air during the course of daily activity.

Hard surface floors, on the other hand, are easier to clean and maintain. They do not trap pollutants to the same extent as carpets, and they are less likely to emit harmful chemicals. Hard surface floors are also more sustainable and environmentally friendly. For example, natural linoleum is made from linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, cork flour, limestone, and pigments pressed together onto a jute backing. It is a low-maintenance option that can last for decades with proper upkeep.

When choosing hard surface floors, it is important to consider the type of material, its sustainability, and its impact on indoor air quality. For example, ceramic, porcelain, and glass tiles are durable choices that are suitable for most rooms, including bathrooms and kitchens. However, it is important to use low-VOC or GreenGuard Gold-certified cement backer board and adhesive when installing tiles to minimize the release of harmful chemicals.

Another option is solid wood flooring, which is suitable for bedrooms and living areas. When selecting solid wood, it is important to choose products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, indicating that the wood was sustainably harvested. It is also recommended to look for wood that has been harvested and milled locally to reduce its carbon footprint. Water damage is a common problem with solid wood flooring, so it is not recommended for bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms.

In summary, choosing hard surface floors over carpeted floors can help reduce air pollution in the home by minimizing the accumulation of dust and debris, reducing the release of harmful chemicals, and providing a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option.

Frequently asked questions