5 Ways Pets Affect the Quality of Lives in Homes

Having pets in your home brings both delight and challenges to overcome. Whether your pet is a four-legged fur buddy, lives in water, or squawks in a cage, they all have pros and cons including how some pets can affect the indoor air quality of your home. The good news is that there is a multitude of solutions to make your life and your pets' lives more harmonious.

How Your Furry Friends Can Increase Your Quality of Life

Image via Flickr by Gallery Sweet Spot

The majority of households in America have at least one pet. There have been studies since 1919 that prove a pet (even a farm animal) can provide a therapeutic effect on humans. Even the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that "Pets can help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship." They also say that a pet such as a dog can bring about other health benefits such as getting out to exercise more, which helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. With or without studies, many people know the comfort, security, and joy having a pet can bring to the family.

Health Issues Caused by Pets in your Home

Possible allergies and increased exposure to illness and disease are important to be aware of when you have pets in the home. Some pet allergies can develop over time and are often considered to be caused by fur. In reality, it is the dead skin, or dander, that causes an allergic reaction in humans.

In addition to allergies, pets can sometimes increase your family's exposure to germs, bacteria, parasites, and viruses that can spread zoonotic diseases. Children younger than 5 and adults older than 65 as well as people with compromised immune systems are considered to be more at risk from these diseases.

To avoid the risk of toxoplasmosis, pregnant women should not get a new cat and should not change the litter box of a cat already in the home. Children under 5 years old should not have a reptile as the danger of salmonella infection is highly increased.

How Pets Affect the Air Quality Inside Your Home

Animals that go outside, such as dogs and cats, can carry dirt, pollen, and debris into your home. There is also a fresh supply of pet dander that is present every time your pet moves. The good news is that with a regular bathing schedule, outside grooming, and a good quality air filter, you can lessen the negative effects of having your fur buddies live with you. Ireland Heating and Air Conditioning Co. offer some great advice on solutions for your indoor air quality.

Choosing The Right Pet

If you don't already have a pet, take some time to make sure you are choosing the right pet for both your needs and theirs. Younger animals take more of your time to train and can be unpredictable around children or other animals. There is a multitude of choices for the needs of every household.

The benefits of companionship that come with owning a pet are important to many families. Being aware of the ways we can manage concerns about air quality in the home helps to keep our families healthy and happy.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality Naturally

Your home is the place you go to relax, entertain, and have fun with family and friends. You try to keep it as clean as possible and it looks that way on the surface. However, the air that you are breathing in could be damaging your health. 

What should I know about indoor air quality?

Indoor air quality is the quality of air in and around building structures and how it pertains to an individual's health and wellbeing. This is important as a homeowner because you want the quality of air in and around your home to be great. When the indoor air quality is low this can cause difficulties for people in a household. 

How can indoor air quality be reduced?

Indoor air quality decreases when a number of factors occur in a home. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some elements that can contribute to indoor air quality is tobacco, certain building materials, household items, personal care items, HVAC systems, humidity, outdoor air pollution, as well as wood and gas appliances. Your HVAC is one of the biggest appliances in your home, so if you think it's contributing to your poor air quality, call One Call Home Services.

As you can see, many of these items are probably in your home right now, which can cause your home's air quality to decrease. When air quality is low in a household, the occupants in a home could develop serious illnesses. 

What health problems can develop due to poor indoor air quality?

Various health problems can develop, or already established illnesses can become irritated when the indoor air quality of a home is poor. Some health problems that can develop are asthma, allergies to even cancer. 

Some of these illnesses can occur after immediate exposure to poor indoor air quality such as headaches and asthma attacks. While others may not develop until years after being exposed to the low-quality indoor air. These include illnesses such as cancer and medical problems involving the heart, lung, and respiratory system. 

How can I improve my indoor air quality naturally?

One thing that you can do immediately is to open the windows and doors in your home, allowing ventilation. Ventilation removes stagnant air and allows for fresh air to enter your home. While the window is open you can also turn on a fan to get the air in your house circulating. 

Placing houseplants around your home is another natural way of improving air quality. The leaves of a plant can absorb excess moisture in a room which decreases the humidity. Humidity is a contributor to poor indoor air quality as mold and dust mites grow in this environment. 

According to Interesting Engineering, a salt lamp gets rid of low-quality indoor air. They help to eliminate air contaminants that cause asthma.

Use natural cleaning products such as vinegar and lemon when cleaning your home. Other types of cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that release pollutants and decrease your air quality.

Can you see how the air in your home could be affecting your health? Now you can work to eliminate air pollutants and take the necessary steps to improve the air quality of your home naturally. 

Improving Air Quality in a Home

Even small adjustments in a home can get rid of stale air and allow homeowners to have a cleaner, healthier space. Moving furniture around, for example, can make a big difference in how certain spaces feel. Ventilating stale air by opening windows and bringing fresh air in from outside can help remove old air. Think about investing in an air purifier according to Ireland Heating & Air Conditioning. Clean air filters do a lot for a home. First, they make sure the HVAC system isn't working overtime. Second, they keep the dust and other pollutants out of the air.