How Heat Affects the Air Quality Outside and Inside Your Home

Can you feel the warmth in the air? Summer is just around the corner and we couldn’t be more excited! After months of chilly weather and dark skies, rising temperatures bring a sense of renewal and a chance to get outside and soak up some much-needed Vitamin D. From picnics in the park to lazy days at the beach, there’s just something about summer that makes us feel alive and energized. So let’s dust off our shorts and flip-flops and get ready to soak up the sun!

How Heat Impacts Ozone and VOC Levels

As summer approaches, the temperature outside and inside our homes will start to rise. While many people look forward to the warmer weather, it’s important to remember that heat can negatively affect the air quality both outside and inside our homes. In fact, according to a study done at the USC Keck School of Medicine, a person’s mortality risk can increase by 21% on days where there is both extreme heat and high levels of pollution.

One of the main ways that heat can affect air quality is by causing more ozone pollution, also known as smog. Ozone pollution is created when emissions from cars, factories, and other sources react with sunlight and heat. This can be particularly problematic during heat waves, when the temperature and sunlight levels are both high. Increased levels of ozone pollution can cause a variety of health problems including coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Another way that heat can affect air quality is by speeding up the release rate of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), chemicals that are released from products such as paint, cleaning supplies, and furniture. During heat waves, because the release rate of VOCs is sped up, the indoor concentration will be higher. It’s important to keep your home well-ventilated during the summer months to prevent the buildup of VOCs.

How Heat Affects Pollen Levels

High temperatures also play a huge role in pollen release. As the temperature rises, plants release more pollen, which can increase allergy symptoms and the risk of hay fever. For people with asthma, heat can be particularly problematic. Nearly 25 million Americans have asthma, and a University of Maryland School of Public Health study found that in extreme heat, the risk of hospitalization for those with asthma goes up to 23%. This is because high temperatures can exacerbate asthma symptoms, making it harder to breathe.

How Heat Impacts Indoor Air Quality

Moreover, high temperature and humidity can lead to an increase in the production of pollutants as well as trapping them in the air. This can be particularly problematic in urban areas, where there are a lot of cars and other sources of pollution. Fans may seem like a good way to cool down, but they only circulate polluted air over and over again in your home. It’s important to use air purifiers to filter out pollutants and ensure clean air inside your home.

Investing in an Air Purifier

One of the best ways to prepare for heat waves this summer is to invest in an air purifier like AirDoctor. AirDoctor is a high-performance air purifier that captures up to 99.99% of airborne particles, including allergens, pollutants, and VOCs. It uses advanced technology to filter the air in your home, ensuring that you and your family breathe clean air, no matter how hot it gets outside. AirDoctor’s technology is designed to filter the air in rooms of all sizes and can capture particles as small as 0.003 microns.

In conclusion, it’s important to be aware of how the heat can negatively affect the air quality both outside and inside your home. Heat waves can cause more ozone pollution, increase the release rate of VOCs, exacerbate allergies and asthma, and increase the production and trapping of pollutants. With solutions like AirDoctor, you can breathe easy this summer and enjoy the warm weather by ensuring clean air inside your home. Don’t wait until it’s too late, invest in an AirDoctor air purifier today and prepare for the heat waves to come.