As a new parent, you've likely researched, baby-proofed, and prepared for their arrival well in advance. While setting up a nursery is essential, it's also important to consider the indoor air quality of your home. Using air purifiers is a great way to reduce pollutants, but it's wise to learn about how babies react to air quality and what steps you can take to help provide an ideal environment.

How Indoor Air Quality Is Measured

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure the number of contaminants in any given cubic meter of air. While the index is primarily used by meteorologists for regional purposes, it's also a standard used to measure indoor air quality. 

Between 1 and 50 micrograms per cubic meter is considered to be a safe, healthy range for both adults and infants. When the AQI reading surpasses 100 micrograms per cubic meter, it becomes problematic for sensitive individuals, especially babies, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and people living with preexisting medical conditions.

How Quality Is Impacted

There are several factors that impact the indoor air quality of your home. Some of the most common causes of a high AQI level include cleaning chemicals, mold spores, dust particles, pet dander, airborne bacterial matter, and excess levels of moisture. 

More serious instances of poor air quality include carbon dioxide exposure, paint fumes, or the deterioration of asbestos. Factors that affect outdoor air quality can also enter your home and cause problems, especially during extreme weather or high pollen seasons. 

How Parents Can Make Improvements

Poor indoor air quality can cause a number of short-term side effects, including fatigue, headaches, irritation, and dizziness. Once the air quality is improved, these effects subside. However, long-term exposure and the presence of dangerous irritants can lead to more serious conditions. 

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve the air quality of your home's interior. The simplest tactic is to replace the HVAC system's air filter once a month. These screens become saturated with dust, pollen, and other debris quickly, which enables new pollutants to enter the home's ductwork more easily.

New parents can also utilize air purifiers and control the ventilation of their space. These are available as powerful whole-home HVAC supplements or simpler single-room units. They help sterilize the air that's distributed throughout your home, destroying viruses and pollutants as they enter the airflow. 

To make sure your indoor air quality is pure and contributes to the healthy development of your newborn, contact Sicilia Heating & Cooling in McKees Rocks, PA. This family-owned HVAC contractor has been in the business since 1975 and provides customers with top-notch service, no matter how simple or advanced the job is. They include everything from HVAC inspection and maintenance to repair and installation of air purifiers to keep the home's air quality at its best. Their technicians will service any make or model of equipment, and they provide additional HVAC services as needed. Call (412) 331-0142 to schedule a technician visit today.