It probably sounds a little crazy, but at least in one important way,indoor air quality you’re better off living in an old, drafty house than one that’s sealed up tight as a button.
Why? Because airtight buildings typically have poor or little circulation of fresh air, and that’s not good since, on average, indoor air as twice as polluted as outdoor air. Tightly sealed, well insulated buildings gave rise to the term “Sick Building Syndrome,” and yet airtight homes can make you just as sick as a well-sealed office building or industrial facility.
How do you know if you have an indoor air quality problem? These are the usual warning signs:
- Frequent headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Chronic achiness
- Inability to concentrate
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in your chest
- Eye and throat irritation
- Blocked or runny nose
- Onset or worsening of allergy and asthma symptoms
One way to overcome the effects of poor air circulation is surround yourself with certain varieties of house plants, each one known for its ability to rid the air of bacteria and other toxins, including: formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene.
Many people, for example, place Aloe Vera plants on their window sills for their soothing and healing properties. Here’s a whole list of house plants capable of trapping airborne pollutants and driving them down into their soil, thus helping to nourish the plants.
- Arrowhead Vine
- Boston Fern
- Chinese Evergreen
- Croton
- Dracaena
- Peace Lily
- Philodendron
- Pothos
- Spider Plant
At Air Professionals, we offer highly effective solutions for cleaner indoor air, including whole-house air purifiers and humidity control systems. To learn more about how to rid your home of whatever’s making you sick, contact Air Professionals today.