Oct 01 2009
Breathe easy with simple tips for improving indoor air quality
(ARA) – Summer has slipped away, but that doesn’t mean seasonal allergies have gone with it. Millions of Americans suffer through fall as autumn winds stir up late summer pollen, fallen leaves, dust and debris. To make matters worse, indoor allergens are less likely to be vented out of homes closed up against fall’s chill.
More than half the American population – 55 percent – tests positive for at least one allergen, according to WebMD. More than 16 million adults and nearly 7 million children have asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Keeping the air in your home as pollutant free as possible can help reduce asthma and allergy symptoms. Indoor pollutants can make the air inside your home more irritating than outdoor air. Indoor air quality is one of the top five most urgent environmental risks to public health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Protecting your family’s health from indoor irritants can be simple and cost-effective. “Improving indoor air quality is as simple as controlling moisture, reducing allergens and decreasing gases and fumes by updating old appliances, changing filters regularly and investing in economical, mechanical appliances to improve air quality,” says John Kasberger, a senior vice president at Lowe’s — the home improvement store.
Lowe’s offers a few simple tips to improve indoor air quality:
* Consider investing in a quality air purifier. You don’t have to go far or pay a lot to find a good one. Lowe’s new Idylis family of air purification products uses a HEPA filtration system to remove up to 99.97 percent of allergy-causing airborne particles like smoke, dust, pollen, gases and fumes. Select units offer UV-C technology to assist in killing germs which can cause cold and flu and are also ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they’ll consume less energy and money.
* Change the filters in your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system regularly, as recommended by the system’s manufacturer. Keeping filters clean not only improves indoor air quality by more effectively removing irritants, it can also help extend the life of the mechanical system.
* Finally, control moisture in your home. Be sure to have properly working ventilation fans in moisture-prone areas like the kitchen and bathroom. Excess humidity can cause mold, bacteria and other irritants that trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. You easily can tell if your home is too humid – if water collects on the inside of your windows the moisture level in the home is too high. Remove excess moisture with a dehumidifier.
For more tips on how to keep your indoor air healthy for you and your family, visit idylishome.com or Lowes.com/HealthyHome.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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