Poor indoor air quality is a growing problem in homes and rental properties. Did you know that even though it looks cleaner, the air inside a home often has more pollutants than the outside?
That happens because of how HVAC systems work. The HVAC system relies on what is known as the “building envelope” to keep indoor humidity and temperature at the proper levels. But this system can also pose indoor air quality issues.
That’s because to maintain this “internal climate”, the HVAC must limit airflow between the outside and inside of the home. The HVAC prevents the free flow of air into and out of the house and could affect the home’s temperature.
The result is that kitchen smoke and other airborne materials will not leave the house. Over time the concentrations of these substances can get very high, in complete contrast to what is happening outside the home, where the air is being constantly diluted.
This higher concentration of air pollutants inside the home is partly responsible for growing rates of respiratory conditions among people who live in urban areas. One of the responsibilities of a Property Manager is to make sure the air system in the property is working properly and there are many ways great property managers and tenants can work to improve air quality in your property. Bellow we’ll provide you with some of the best ways to improve air quality in apartments.
12 ways to improve air quality in apartments
While it may not be possible to eliminate the indoor quality issues of the apartment, the following 12 steps can help to reduce the impact of this problem.
1. Clean carpets and furniture
Cleaning the carpets and furniture regularly will help get rid of air pollutants. Materials like dust, pollen, dander and mold spores often hide in carpets and furniture. Using a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters can help to remove them.
2. Monitor humidity levels
Excess humidity makes the home uncomfortable and increases the risk of mold. Mold will damage the house, ruin its aesthetics and subject occupants to more health risks. Installing a dehumidification system can help to solve the problem.
3. Get rid of smoke by ventilating when cooking
Kitchen smoke and oil fumes are two of the biggest air pollutants in homes. Installing an exhaust fan, turning on the hood vent and opening a window when cooking can help you get rid of kitchen smoke.
4. Replace HVAC filters often
Dirty A/C filters compound the home’s indoor air quality issues. Instead of removing particles from incoming air, dirty filters add pollutants to the air inside the apartment. Replace air filters or clean them on a schedule to prevent this.
5. Install an exhaust fan in the bathroom
Steam generated during hot showers lingers in the bathroom for a long time. That can worsen the home’s humidity issues and encourage mold. Install an exhaust fan in the bathroom and use it throughout your shower time.
6. Install a ceiling fan
Ceiling fans may not remove pollutants from indoor air, but they help the air inside the home circulate. It can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system and help you reduce the apartment’s indoor humidity issues.
- Limit the use of chemical ingredients
Chemicals in everyday products form a huge portion of the air pollutants found in indoor air. These chemicals are found in VOC cleaning supplies and paints. Avoid these products.
8. Clean the HVAC ductwork
The apartment’s ductwork can trap dust and other air pollutants. Even when the home has been rid of pollutants, they can be reintroduced to the space through ductwork. That is why ductworks need to be cleaned.
9. Install air filtration systems
These standalone air purifiers will greatly amplify the apartment’s air filtration capabilities. Air filtration systems ensure that you don’t rely solely on your HVAC to filter the air inside the home.
10. Test indoor air periodically
Radon and other soil gases have recently gained prominence as major pollutants that can compromise indoor air. Periodically testing indoor air for radon and other pollutants will help reduce the apartment’s exposure to this problem and lessen the risk of lawsuits due to this issue.
11. Add and test alarm systems
Making sure an apartment’s CO2 detectors are working is a simple but effective way to protect the home from this dangerous gas. It is also a good idea to install a warning system that will alert you when air pollution levels get high.
12. Add indoor plants
Lastly, adding indoor plants to the apartment will give you a natural air filtering system that doesn’t cost much to maintain and improves the apartment’s aesthetics.
Finally, if poor indoor air quality is a huge problem in the apartment or you are particularly susceptible to poor indoor air, you may want to talk to an expert and have them recommend more steps to help you deal with this problem.
