Health effects from indoor air pollutants can be experienced soon after exposure or even, years later. The effects range from short-term which is eye and throat irritation, to long-term diseases such as respiratory disease and cancer. You can check these common symptoms to see if your indoor air is polluted: coughing.
Start by keeping your house clean. Regular vacuuming and dusting gets rid of dust mites, pet dander, and tracked-in allergens. A vacuum with a HEPA-filter traps smaller particles that other vacuums exhaust back into the air.
13 easy ways to clean the air inside your home
Dust frequently and minimize dust-gathering clutter. Vacuum floors and carpets often, using a vac with a HEPA filter. Vacuum mattresses every two weeks, use allergy-proof mattress covers and wash all bedding in hot water every week.An air purifier can only remove allergens while they're floating in the air. Because the health benefits from using air purifiers vary from person to person and depend on the types of pollutants in your home, it's ultimately your call if paying for—and running—an air purifier is worth it.
Consumer Reports recommends against using mold test kits. All those we've tested have had major problems and are not reliable. What's more, identifying the mold species growing in your home is less important than eradicating it.
Another sign that you could have mold is if you are suffering allergic symptoms. If there's mold hidden in your home there will be mold spores in the air. When you breathe these spores in not only will you notice a moldy smell but your body will react with allergic reactions like sneezing, a runny nose or sore eyes.
If they come into contact with mold, they may experience symptoms, such as:
- a runny or blocked nose.
- watery, red eyes.
- a dry cough.
- skin rashes.
- a sore throat.
- sinusitis.
- wheezing.
Symptoms of mold exposure may include headache, sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and fatigue. Mold can grow behind those walls and filter into the air through ducts or pipes. A plumber or contractor can help identify weak spots or possible leaks and prevent mold growth.
As such, if you spot water stains on your walls, then it is likely that there's mold growing behind them. Water stains can be yellow or brown in color, so look out for such colors on your wall. If the spots are damp, then that's an obvious sign of moisture problems as well.
The Short Answer: Yes, an air purifier can remove mold spores. However, it must include a HEPA filter which traps airborne spores and prevents them from reentering the room.
If you don't see
signs of
mold but you can smell it, it may be hidden in your
walls. A musty smell is a good indicator that
mold is growing in your home.
Be aware of signs that drywalls are moist such as:
- water stains.
- dark rings.
- discoloration.
- deterioration like peeling, bubbling or cracking of the paint or wallpaper.
Yes, it's called the "Informant or the Informant Plus Black Mold & Fungal Allergen Detection Test Kit". They are the only commercially available mold test designed to detect specific black molds, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Stachybotrys species, which are toxigenic, plus many major and minor allergenic spores.
Canary is a smart smoke detector that monitors air quality, carbon monoxide, and smoke levels. Users can keep track of their air quality levels, silence the alarm, and monitor Canary's battery levels using a web app and upcoming iOS, Android, and Blackberry apps.
8 Easy-Care Houseplants That Improve Air Quality
- Peace Lily. The popular peace lily is one of the best plants for purifying air—it removes formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, ammonia and more.
- English Ivy.
- Snake Plant.
- Chrysanthemum.
- Devil's Ivy.
- Dracaena.
- Bamboo Palm.
- Gerbera Daisy.
AirVisual does its best to provide accurate, reliable, real-time data. Our sources range from governmental stations to our own AirVisual Pro/Node, and cover more than 10,000 cities worldwide. This can cause different locations to show different data - some current, some outdated.
