Do Plants Help Indoor Air Quality
We already know the importance that trees have on the environment with how they help clean the air. Therefore, it would make sense that having plants in your home could improve its indoor air quality. In fact, there have been studies performed by NASA in the controlled environments of its space...
We already know the importance that trees have on the environment with how they help clean the air. Therefore, it would make sense that having plants in your home could improve its indoor air quality. In fact, there have been studies performed by NASA in the controlled environments of its space station that showed that plants do help clean the air. While their studies showed that plants had a positive effect on the air, these results do not really carry over into real-life settings.
Why Plants Cannot Improve IAQ on Their Own
The American Lung Association has estimated that you would need to have over 680 plants in your home to remove pollutants from the air in your home. There are other factors to consider too, like the:
- Species of plants
- How much light the plants receive
- Temperature in the home
- Size of plants
Adding a few plants to your home could slightly improve indoor air quality, but not completely. Try to stick to plants like leafy ferns, snake plants or spider plants that have larger leaf surfaces.
Why Plants Might Not Be Such a Great Idea
There could be a downside to depending on plants to clean the air in your home. In some instances, they could contribute to poor air quality. Some plants may release VOCs or pollen into the air, or their soil could contain mold, bacteria or pesticides.
A Better Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality
A more reliable way to improve your home’s indoor air quality is by:
- Upgrading the type of HVAC air filters you are using
- Adding a dehumidifier or humidifier to your home
- Having an air purification or UV air cleaner added to your HVAC system
We Can Help
Determining the right solution to improve your home’s indoor air quality requires the expertise of a professional. In the San Antonio area, the team to trust is MD Air Conditioning & Heating. We can provide you with an IAQ assessment to determine what you need to make the air in your home healthier and more comfortable for your family. We are a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer and offer heating and cooling installations, repairs and maintenance services. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
