Hiding indoors from the heat? Here's what to know about air quality

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Smoke, dust, mold and household cleaners contribute to poor air quality — especially without proper ventilation.

Credit: Pixabay

Higher temperatures, humidity and indoor air pollutants are rising, putting people at risk as they choose air conditioning instead of outdoor activities.

Indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the American Lung Association, and poor indoor air quality can lead to medical conditions including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer and cognitive decline. 

Smoke, dust, mold and household cleaners contribute to poor air quality — especially without proper ventilation, said Bryant Hains with Southface, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps homeowners and businesses maintain healthy indoor air.

Avoiding use of harsh cleaning chemicals, not smoking indoors, venting dryers to outside, and keeping humidity below 60% are ways homeowners can protect against indoor air pollution.

Another example is using a vent hood over a kitchen cooking range, he said.

"You always want to turn that on when you're cooking and you also want to make sure that it's vented to the outside," he said. "The ones that recirculate the air, that just blow air back into your kitchen. Those don't do anything."

Opening windows for fresh air during the summer may seem like a solution, but it can create problems beyond having to cool extra hot air.

"You're also letting in a lot of humidity, and an air conditioner is only designed to remove so much humidity, you know," Hains said. "It has a twofold purpose. It both cools the air and it dehumidifiers the air."

High humidity also increases the chances of mold growth, dust mites, and other allergens.