VOCs: What They Are & How To Minimize Them In Your Home
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a group of organic compounds with high vapor pressure and low water solubility. These gaseous compounds, often found in and emitted by household products such as paints, cleaning supplies, furniture, and air fresheners, can contribute to poor indoor air quality and negatively impact health. When exposed to high levels of VOCs, symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat may occur. Fortunately, you can minimize VOCs in your home and create a healthier living environment. Below, LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating shares a few tips for reducing Volatile Organic Compounds in your home.
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Ventilate Your Home Often
Increasing ventilation is one of the easiest ways to reduce your home’s VOC levels. Proper airflow that removes contaminated indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air helps dilute and remove harmful gases from your home. For example, when working with products that produce VOCs, you should open windows and doors and use exhaust fans in areas like kitchens and bathrooms to help your home properly air out. Ensuring your home is well-ventilated not only reduces VOCs but also creates a fresher, more comfortable living environment for your family.
Pick Low-VOC Products
When shopping for household supplies, try to find low-VOC products. Opt for Green Seal or UL Environment-certified paint, cleaning, and personal care products whenever possible. Additionally, try to avoid products with strong fragrances, as these typically contain high levels of VOCs. By checking ingredient lists and choosing products that have minimal fragrance, are water-based, or have eco-friendly certifications, you can keep the VOC levels in your home lower.
Get Houseplants That Absorb VOCs
There are a number of houseplants you can buy that will not only add natural beauty to your home but will also absorb VOCs from the air. A few houseplants that absorb VOCs include peace lilies, dracaenas, rubber plants, bamboo palms, and butterfly palms. If you’ve already got houseplants, consider adding one of these VOC-absorbing plants to your collection. If you don’t have any houseplants, getting one of those listed above is a great way to add life to your home and mitigate indoor VOC levels.
Invest In Air Purifiers
An air purifier improves indoor air quality by removing pollutants from a room’s air. Certain air purifying devices can even remove volatile organic compounds from your home’s air! At LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer in-duct air purifiers. Our systems can kill 99% of airborne and surface viruses, mold, and bacteria and target odors caused by smoke, cooking, smoking, pets, trash, mold, formaldehyde, paint, and chemicals. Contact our local HVAC company today to learn more about air purifiers or to schedule installation services!
Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance
Routine HVAC maintenance conducted by a professional technician can help improve indoor air quality. A well-maintained HVAC system is not only more energy efficient but can help control indoor humidity and filter out harmful particles as well. LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating offers planned HVAC maintenance services designed to ensure your system runs as efficiently as possible and keeps your indoor air fresh and clean! Keep your system running smoothly all year long with LIBERTYAIR’s preventative HVAC maintenance in Newberry, FL!