It’s doubtful you’ve heard discussions about indoor air pollution, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many people were under self-quarantine in their homes. At Angels on Call, your go-to home health agency in Philadelphia, PA, we want to ensure that our senior citizens and their families are aware of the importance of indoor pollution and how to improve indoor air quality.
Use Natural Ventilation
Some of our indoor air pollution comes from our own activities. Some crafts and hobbies that use paints, adhesives, and solvents can leave dangerous fumes behind. Some cleaning products also contain harmful fumes. It’s important when using these types of products that you have adequate ventilation. Keep doors and windows open to keep these fumes from building up in your home.
Keep Home Fans and Exhaust Systems Clean
Your kitchen, bathroom, and dryer all have important vents and exhaust systems that help keep your indoor air clean. Make sure that your kitchen and bathroom vent fans stay clean and clear of grease, moisture, mold, or mildew. You should also ensure that your dryer vent is cleaned regularly to prevent dust and other pollutants from backing up into your home.
Change Furnace and AC Filters
Your furnace and AC system have filters to help keep the air clean in your home. It’s important that you change these filters regularly to prevent the build-up of particles. Changing your filters will also ensure your system works efficiently, especially in the hottest and coldest months of the year.
What kind of filter you purchase for your home is important. While you may be tempted to purchase a less expensive filter, the cheaper filter may not be keeping your air as clean as you need. For seniors especially, it’s important that your air filters remove pollutants and allergens. Rating systems can vary by brand and store. However, you can always check the packaging to ensure that it removes all particles, including dust, mildew, mold, viruses, and allergens.
Test and Monitor Your Home for Radon & Carbon Monoxide
Radon and Carbon Monoxide pose serious health risks to seniors. Both are odorless and invisible. Radon can enter the home if it’s present in the soil around the house or in the neighborhood. Carbon monoxide can find its way into the home through poor ventilation, especially if you use indoor heaters.
Radon testing kits are inexpensive and easy to use to test for the presence of Radon. Carbon monoxide detectors can be installed alongside your smoke detectors. You can also replace your simple smoke detector with a combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector.
Are You Looking for a Home Health Agency in Philadelphia, PA?
Do you need elderly care services in Philadelphia? We offer a wide range of services to help seniors and those with special needs live their best lives. Contact us to set up an appointment and we will match you with one of our Angels or help you choose your Angel as part of the PAS program.
