Your home is your safe space, but did you know the windows in your home can significantly impact your health and the health of other members of your household?
By knowing what impacts your indoor air quality (IAQ) and how to improve it, you can make the right choice for yourself and your household and achieve healthier, cleaner indoor air.
One thing that affects air quality is windows that aren’t cleaned frequently, as these can build up a good amount of dust. Windows that aren’t washed correctly contribute to a bigger ventilation issue and can potentially cause or worsen respiratory problems and allergies, impacting quality of life.
Here are some more factors that cause poor air quality.
Many everyday items, such as cosmetics, household cleaners and fabrics, contain VOCs. The VOCs vaporize into the air, contaminating it and reducing indoor air quality.
Windows that don’t fit correctly, are not properly installed or are just poor quality may have leaks that can lead to problems like mold and mildew. Mold can irritate the respiratory system, eyes and skin.
When there’s no ventilation, the contaminated air lingers, affecting your health and the well-being of those around you.
Windows provide your home with natural light and a view to the outside. They also create a healthier, more comfortable indoor environment by providing:
Not all windows are made the same, and some designs allow more air circulation than others.
Casement windows are one of the best windows for air circulation. The sash, which is the glass feature of the window, opens outward, and you can open it all the way if you prefer. The sash stops and redirects the breeze from the side of your home, allowing you to ventilate even large rooms effectively.
With sliding windows, you can open one sash or both, one behind the other, maximizing ventilation. These windows are also great for areas that don’t have enough opening space.
Awning windows have hinges at the top and open outward at the bottom. This design means you can open the windows as wide as you want while protecting your window sill from rain and snow.
By catching breezes from either side, bay and bow windows make the most of the fresh air in your home. Bay windows consist of three windows, one in the center and two operable ones on the side, while bow windows have three or more in an arch.
With two windows on both sides, you can catch a breeze blowing from either direction of your home.
You can open the top and bottom sashes of double-hung windows. As warm air rises, opening the bottom sash brings in cooler air, while the warmer, muggy air gets pushed outward from the top.
Like we said, casement windows are the best for providing maximum ventilation in your home, but any operable window will help change the old, stale air in your home to fresh air from outside.
Contact Renewal by Andersen at (866) 609-5033 or complete this contact form to request an appointment to discuss your upcoming window replacement.
