How clean is your air?

Creating a healthy home to ensure the health and comfort of your family is probably one of your top priorities, but did you know that the air inside your home will be affecting both? With most of us spending up to 90% of our lives indoors, maintaining clean and healthy air is crucial particularly for older family members and kids.

Indoor air quality, or IAQ, is a measure of how healthy and clean the air inside your home is. IAQ is affected by moisture, mould, and other small particles. If you want your family to breathe clean and healthy air, you need to find ways to reduce and remove these from your home. 

Here are some of our quick tips on how to create a healthy home by reducing moisture, mould and more in your home:

#1: Let your extraction fan do its job. Always use your extraction fan during and after showering to remove all the moisture and steam. Just because you’ve stopped the water, doesn’t mean there isn't still a bunch of steam in the air!

#2: Let your dishwasher finish. Have you ever opened a dishwasher before it has finished drying and gotten a face full of steam? Let it finish its drying cycle so that moisture goes down the drain, not into your kitchen.

#3: Open all your doors and windows. This one might seem simple, but it can have a huge effect! Simply opening your doors and windows during the day will help purge the moist and stale overnight air with clean fresh air. This is especially important during winter.

#4: Use electric heating methods. Avoid unflued gas heaters and older fireplaces. Unflued gas heaters can produce more moisture than your average shower and open fireplaces can release particles that irritate your lungs. Electric heating methods, like heat pumps and oil heaters, are much better for your family's health and home’s IAQ.

#5: Don’t dry laundry inside. Drying washing can release 5 litres of moisture into your home per load. If you must dry clothes indoors, do it with a dehumidifier on or in a room with an extraction fan running. If you have a dryer, ensure that it vents outside.

#6: Watch out for mould! Mould spores can have serious health consequences. If your home is consistently above 60% RH, you might have a mould problem. Check your wallpaper, flooring, window frames and corners. Use cleaners like vinegar to remove it but remember that to permanently get rid of it you’ll need to lower the humidity.

#7: Leave a gap between furniture and walls. A small gap helps air to circulate which reduces mould and mildew growth. We also suggest leaving your wardrobe and cupboard doors slightly open (and not too full) which will have a similar effect.

#8: Check for leaks. Not only will leaks cost you money in either heating or water bills, but they will also allow water to infiltrate your home. Check your home’s walls, windows, and roof for any gaps or cracks and tighten the various taps around your home. 

#9: Clean your gutters and drains. A blocked gutter or drain will stop water from efficiently flowing away from your home. Instead, rainwater may pool and soak through your walls or roof, leading to mould growth in hard to reach areas.

#10: Install ground moisture barriers. This simple and cost-effective way to reduce moisture involves installing a polythene sheet under your home. This prevents moisture from the ground or foundations from seeping up through the floor and into your home. It might not sound like much, but a ground moisture barrier can have a dramatic effect.

#11: Install a ventilation system. Maintaining a healthy IAQ is a constant battle. Healthy living habits like drying laundry outside or regularly opening your windows are easy to forget about when life gets busy. Plus, sometimes there are valid reasons to not open windows.

That’s where a ventilation system can help.

Because a ventilation system is always running, you can clean and filter your family’s air 24/7, even if you are busy. Live better by reducing moisture, mould and other particles throughout your home.

Ready to take the first step towards creating a healthy home? Our experts are here to help you find the perfect ventilation solution. Book your free home assessment today!