Creating healthy environments in our homes is important for our families. Rest easy when you enjoy a cozy night in with these helpful tips for better indoor air:
1. Keep on top of maintenance. You can save yourself many headaches and problems down the road by sticking to a maintenance schedule. Replace your air filters regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure your furnace, fireplace, gas stove and water heater are serviced once a year by a qualified expert.
2. Ventilate your home. Even if it’s cool outside, it’s important to have fresh air throughout your home, especially if you are renovating or using chemical products. You can open windows, but also be sure to check that your mechanical ventilation is working properly. That includes fans, ducts, or more complex ventilation systems. Don’t forget to turn on exhaust fans that vent to the outside when cooking, especially if you’re frying food or using a gas stove, or when showering. This can help eliminate pollutants and remove moisture that can eventually cause harmful mould.
3. Have a smoke-free home and car. Many of us try to limit our exposure to chemicals in household and beauty products. But all those efforts could be in vain if you still smoke in your home or car, as the burning of a cigarette releases over 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are known to cause cancer. The best way to reduce your risk from smoking-related diseases is to stop smoking. If you’re trying to quit, there are many options to help you, like counselling, a quit coach, self-help books, nicotine replacement therapies, medications and other less harmful sources of nicotine. Making your home and car smoke-free will help protect your entire family and may even help you quit smoking from the dangers of tobacco smoke.
— News Canada