Causes And Effects Of Pollutants In Your Home

Danger Of Pollutants In Your Home

While pollutants are invisible, breathing in polluted air on a daily basis can cause some nasty side effects. This could be anything from a manageable stuffy nose right through to pneumonia.

With the effects of pollutants being so varied, it has become all the more important to keep them under control with the help of an air purifier. Within this guide, we will be taking you through everything you need to know about the causes and effects of pollutants in your home.

What Are The Worst Pollutants?

Air pollutants can be classed as anything from pollen (which causes hay fever) right through to carbon monoxide (which is classed as a silent killer). The worst pollutants found in the home that can have the deadliest side effects include:

Smoke
Ozone
Nitrogen dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Sulphur dioxide

The majority of these pollutants have no visible taste or smell, making them invisible to our senses. This is why it is so important to have the right detectors in place that can alert you whenever pollutant levels are dangerously high.

What Are The Sources Of Pollutants?

The quality of the air in our home is determined by many different factors. As you know by now, there are plenty of pollutants to look out for, and the majority are all generated by different sources.

The most common sources of pollutants tend to be from cooking food or cleaning/decorating with products that are high in chemicals. Without even knowing it, these actions can push pollutants into the air and cause havoc with your health. Also, if you smoke indoors, then this is another common source that is highly likely to be polluting the air around you.

If you suffer from allergies, then your pets and dust mites are likely to be to blame. This may be bearable for most people, but if you suffer from asthma, it’s important to use humidifiers to relieve your troubles.

While these innocent actions may not cause deadly pollutants, it’s your home’s ability to cope with them that can start to cause serious problems. For example, if your home isn’t properly ventilated or is always damp, these pollutants have a greater chance of multiplying and severely affecting your health.

The Effects Of Pollutants In Your Home

We’ve briefly spoken about the effects of pollutants in your home, but this next section will help to hone in on just how uncomfortable they can be. If you’re suffering from cold-like symptoms (a cough, runny nose, itchy eyes), then it’s likely that you are allergic to something in your home. These allergens are often caused by the sources mentioned previously in this guide, and if you continue to let them go unmonitored, the effects will only get worse. The majority of cold-like allergies tend to come from pets or dust mites.

More serious effects of pollutants in your home tend to come from the dangerous chemicals that we can’t see. These are typically generated through fuel-burning appliances, particularly when a proper ventilation system isn’t in place.

How To Control Pollutants In Your Home

While a lot of the things that cause pollutants in our homes tend to be innocent actions, you can take comfort in knowing that installing a dehumidifier or smart air purifier will help to keep them under control. These types of devices work by generating filtered (clean!) air into your home, removing any pollutants that may be causing serious side effects and damage to your home.

If your home is prone to problems with damp and condensation, then it’s worth investing in an air conditioner as well as a dehumidifier. An portable air conditioner will help to project cool and clean air into your home, while the dehumidifier will ensure that all moisture stays away. These two important devices will ensure that pollutants are kept well away.

For the more aggressive gas pollutants, place air quality monitors around your home. These monitors will alert you when there are dangerous levels of gas. And, if the monitor has a digital display, you will get to find out the exact levels of gas that are in the home. This will help to confirm whether action needs to be made right away.

Bonus Tips

Strong devices like air conditioners and smart air purifiers are the best preventative measures to put in place but rest assured, there are many other things that you can do to ensure pollutants are kept away from your home. One of the easiest things to do is to change up your cleaning routine, only opting for products that are low in chemicals and safe to use in all environments.

Another great tactic involves drying your clothes outside at any given opportunity. The buildup of damp clothes indoors is like a playground for pollutants, resulting in damp and mold.

The temperature of your home also has a huge role to play; the recommended temperature for all homes is around 64°F. Keeping each room at 64°F will not only help you to feel comfortable but also ensure that dangerous pollutants are naturally kept under control.

Keep Your Home An Enjoyable And Safe Space!

As you can see, there are so many factors to consider when it comes to dealing with pollutants in your home. While this might seem overwhelming, it’s all very important to take into consideration so that these pollutants don’t end up harming your household.

When you begin to follow the right preventative measures, you may start to realize just how much easier it is to breathe in your home! It’s very common for us to get used to the pollutants in our home, meaning when they clear, it truly does feel like a breath of fresh air. You’ll also soon start to find that you don’t have to deal with the dust as much or try and evacuate funny smells, too.

With these causes, effects, and preventive methods in mind, there’s nothing stopping you from taking pride in your home. It’s time to look after your health!

Sources:

Indoor Air Pollution – Our World in Data
Indoor Air Can Cause Health Problems – Health Encyclopedia URMC