You may have heard from gardeners, nursery owners or botanists that including houseplants in your interior decorating could improve your Coral Springs, FL, home’s indoor air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency explains that the air in most homes is two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air, so adding houseplants might seem like an easy way to solve an indoor air quality problem. Before you start setting up rows of flowerpots, here’s what you need to know about the relationship between indoor plants and air quality.
Benefits of Houseplants
Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Bringing plants into your living space may help increase oxygen levels and lower carbon dioxide levels. Some houseplants are thought to remove bad odors from the home, but there’s no scientific evidence for this. Adding plants may help you create a calming environment, and their colors and scents add aesthetic appeal to the rooms of your home.
Scientific Studies of Houseplants and Indoor Air Quality
There’s little scientific evidence that houseplants significantly improve indoor air quality. A few small studies of plants in highly controlled laboratory environments have found that a few species, such as spider plants and English ivy, can remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air. However, you’d need one plant per five-square feet of space to remove a significant amount of these pollutants from your home’s air.
Risks of Houseplants
There are a few risks of bringing plants into your home. Overwatering them could result in mold growth. When mold grows, it releases spores. Plants may also have mites that trigger your allergies.
At Brisk Air, Inc, we’re the trusted providers of indoor air quality services. You can also count on us for reliable air duct cleaning as well as heating and air conditioning maintenance, repair, replacement and installation services. If you’re a business owner in or near Coral Springs, our commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning services help you maintain optimal climate control. For additional information about how indoor plants affect your home’s air quality, contact us at Brisk Air, Inc, today.
