The Environmental Protection Agency states that Americans spend, on average, 90% of their time indoors and that the concentration of indoor air pollutants is two to five times higher than outdoor air pollutants. With a higher exposure to pollutants and allergens, you must take necessary action to improve indoor air quality when possible. The air quality in your home is of the utmost importance since it is where you spend most of your time. If you live in a condo, there are many simple measures you can take to improve your air quality! Read below to learn more.
Air quality in your condo is important
Ventilate
The easiest way to improve the air quality in your condo is through ventilation. In buildings with lower square footage like condos, air does not move as much. This can eventually lead to lower air quality, as any allergens, dust, dirt, or other airborne particles accumulate over time in the still air.
With proper ventilation, indoor air will exit your condo and be replaced by fresh air from outside. The easiest way to ventilate is by opening any doors or windows. This allows air to keep moving and helps prevent buildup of the aforementioned harmful airborne particles, which will improve your indoor air quality.
Whether for weather, safety, or noise reasons, some people do not want to leave their condo doors and windows open for long periods of time to allow for proper ventilation. Trickle vents are an excellent solution for anybody with these concerns. These are smaller vents installed at the top of windows that are opened and closed with cords or rods. Trickle vents create a similar effect as an open window or door through a much smaller, separate opening. These quell any safety concerns about leaving windows open and can help improve your condo’s air quality.
Install a Ductless Mini Split
Ductless mini splits are an HVAC system that will improve your condo’s indoor air quality. These systems consist of an outdoor compressor connected to one or more indoor air conditioners through a series of copper wires and pipes. They are a highly efficient, versatile, and affordable option to heat and cool your condo while also increasing ventilation.
In addition to their excellent heating and cooling capabilities, ductless mini splits double as air filters, purifiers, and dehumidifiers. The indoor air handling units have filters inside which should be changed every four to six weeks to ensure peak efficiency of both their filtering and heating and cooling capabilities. They can clear your air out of any harmful allergens, dust, dirt, and debris to increase your air quality!
In Winnipeg, check at AireServ Heating and A/C for ductless splits.
Selecting the right air conditioner for your home
Regular Cleaning and Nontoxic Cleaning Materials
Keeping your condo clean with nontoxic materials is another excellent way to improve your indoor air quality. Regular cleaning helps prevent buildup of dust, dirt, debris, and other particles that decrease your indoor air quality. It also helps deter the growth of mold or mildew.
Some common household cleaners are made with pesticides and other toxins that can decrease your condo’s air quality. Long-term exposure to these airborne toxins can cause allergies and other health problems. Fortunately, there are many nontoxic and safe cleaning products and alternatives available to clean any household services!
For example, many people clean with ammonia- and glycol-based solutions because they do an excellent job of masking odors. Vinegar mixed with water is another excellent way to clean any hard surface. These products are just as, if not more, effective and will not decrease your condo’s air quality!
Carpet cleaning is especially important to keeping a clean home with increased air quality. Bacteria, odors, and other particles embed themselves deep in the fiber and are released into the air if your carpets are not regularly cleaned. Many use baking soda to clean their carpets, as it can naturally soak up any harmful materials embedded deep into the carpet. Simply let it sit for a few hours or overnight and vacuum it up! Professional carpet cleaning is also recommended annually, as this will remove any stains or odors that a regular vacuum cannot while also increasing your air quality.
Essential Oils
Essential oils can also be used to enhance the indoor air quality in your condo. Oils such as tea tree, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, and many more can help deter mold and mildew growth, kill harmful bacteria, and remove any odors from the air. There are many different ways to disperse essential oils throughout your condo. You can add several drops to an air diffuser, but many prefer to mix their essential oils with water to create a homemade air freshener spray.
In Winnipeg, a great place for essential oils is Motio Massage Therapy.
Indoor Plants
Certain types of plants can help improve indoor air quality. Some plants release oxygen while others filter out common indoor toxins, allergens, and chemicals. Beneficial indoor plants include English Ivy, Spider Plants, and Chrysanthemums, but there are many others that can help improve the air quality in your condo. And not only do these plants help with the air quality, but they look great too!
Caring for a plant is fairly simple, and many breeds can survive in a condo with regular watering and steady lighting from a window. However, be sure to research caring for your specific plant type, as these caring instructions and optimal living conditions may differ from plant to plant.
Decorating Your Home On A Budget
Indoor Air Testing
If you are concerned about your condo’s air quality, have your indoor air quality tested. There are many ways to conduct an indoor air test yourself, but you could also call a professional for more in-depth results. Harmful levels of mold, mildew, radon, carbon monoxide, and more will show up on the test, and you can take any necessary action to improve your indoor air quality.
With so much time spent indoors, the air must be of the highest quality for your short- and long-term health. With this handy guide, you now have several different ways to increase the air quality in your condo!
About the Publisher
Bo Kauffmann is a residential real estate agent with over 18 yrs experience in helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals. Inducted into the REMAX Hall of Fame in 2010 and receiving the REMAX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Bo has sold over 500 houses and condos in the Greater Winnipeg market. He is an accredited buyer representative (A.B.R.) and a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.
Bo provides exceptional service to First-Time Home-Buyers, Seniors looking to downsize and Home Sellers of all ages.
He can be reached easily By E-Mail or call/text him Call/Text Here
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Holy Palmer
One of the best benefits of having good air quality in your condo is having a good night’s sleep after a long tiring day in the office. That’s enough motivation for you to install a good AC. A good AC removes contaminants in the air in your condo and conditions air by either cooling it or heating it to provide comfort to your family. Also, it is also important to know how AC works in order for you to maintain it. Here’s a guide on how to check and maintain an air conditioning system.