A majority of people spend at least half of their lives at home. However, not many realize the connection between their health and their homes. While having a roof over your head gives you and your family a sense of safety, your home may not necessarily guarantee your health while indoors. This is because there are various sources of pollutants and contaminants in the home; including dust, dust mites, mold, smoke, and toxic fumes from household chemicals, just to name a few. In other words, there are always hazards lurking, which may affect your health and that of your family. The good news is that there are a few ways you can turn your home into a healthy and welcoming space without actually spending much effort, time, and money. Here are a few things you might need to keep your family healthy at home.
1. An Air Filter or Purifier
One of the ways you can improve your family’s health while indoors is by ensuring that the air they breathe is clean and free from contaminants. While the air inside your home may appear clean, the truth is that it might contain various pollutants. Often, indoor air is a common cause of respiratory illnesses and allergies. Children and people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma tend to suffer the most. From dust to pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and mold spores, the guys at https://filterbuy.com/resources/air-filters-vs-air-purifiers/ say that installing an air filter or purifier can help eliminate many airborne contaminants, ensuring that the air inside your house is safe for you and your family. In essence, both air filters and air purifiers work to improve indoor air quality, but the latter tends to do a better job to help keep healthy at home. Even something as simple as maintenance of your AC unit can help keep indoor air quality healthy.
2. Indoor Plants
Having a few potted plants in your home can go a long way in enhancing your family’s health. Some houseplants help reduce indoor air pollution. For starters, they suck in CO2 present in the air and produce oxygen. Additionally, plants can also help remove toxic airborne chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the surrounding air. Moreover, indoor plants can help enhance the feelings of happiness and calm just from their beauty.
3. A HEPA Vacuum
With time, carpets and upholstered surfaces trap contaminants such as dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, and dust mites, all of which can aggravate allergies and symptoms of asthma. Regular vacuuming has various benefits and is necessary to get rid of these particles. Now, there are various kinds of vacuums out there, but the High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA vacuum) is more efficient in getting rid of harmful particles from surfaces. Apart from helping improve indoor air quality, the act of vacuuming can also double up as an exercise, which is good for your body.
4. A Range-Hood Fan
Now, plenty of indoor fumes and smoke originates from the kitchen. Cooking may also produce certain air pollutants, including CO and nitrogen dioxide depending on the appliances being used. All these can have unpleasant health effects on your family and to avoid this, installing a range hood fan can be a great decision. Furthermore, it may also help to lower humidity, thus discouraging the growth of mold and bacteria in your kitchen.
5. Water Filtration System
Water is essential for life. However, drinking water directly from the tap can be hurtful to your health as it may contain various contaminants. The best way to ensure your family is healthy at home by drinking clean and safe water is to install a reliable water purifier such as the reverse osmosis water filtration system.
6. Dehumidifier/Humidifier
Especially during the hot season, various parts of the home may accumulate moisture. During the winter, on the other hand, indoor air may become drier. A dehumidifier can help reduce your home’s moisture levels, thus making it less conducive to the growth of mold, mildew, and other allergens. Additionally, a dehumidifier can help reduce indoor odors. A humidifier, on the other hand, can help reduce dry air symptoms such as dry coughs and dry skin. If you have a crawl space in your home, you may wish to invest in crawl space waterproofing in Springfield, or wherever you may be, to help keep moisture at bay, as it can accumulate there and contribute to air quality issues.
7. CO Detector
Carbon monoxide poisoning is another common threat to the health of many families. Furnaces, water heaters, boilers, clothes dryers, fireplaces, wood stoves, and gas stoves are among the most common sources of CO in the home according to the Minnesota Department of Health. With carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home, you can easily get notified whenever the levels of CO in indoor air rise beyond the safe levels, especially around sleeping areas.
For sure, nothing is more important than your family’s health. It’s a bit unfortunate that your home could easily subject your family to various health risks. The best part, however, is that you can always take precautions to keep you and your family safe. The above are just a few things you might need to ensure your family stays healthy at home.
