How Plants Benefit Indoor Air Quality

How Plants Benefit Indoor Air Quality

Particularly during the winter period, when we spend more time inside, indoor air quality is a big consideration for many homeowners. Even some of our most common household products contain various compounds, some of which may be harmful to humans in large enough amounts, and limiting our exposure to these along with dust, dirt, pollution and other contaminants can make a huge difference in overall health and wellness.

At All Hours Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’re here to help with all air quality issues as part of our furnace and heating services. We have highly efficient furnace models and filters to go with them, and we also invite homeowners to supplement their HVAC system with smart air quality helpers. One common household item that you may not have realized fell into this category? Houseplants, and two plants in particular. Let’s look at a famous study that helped us realize how beneficial plants were to air quality, plus how these might help in your home if pure air is a top priority for you.

NASA Study

In 1989, NASA carried out a well-known study to determine if houseplants were effective for cleaning out various compounds from the air. Their primary goal for this study was finding a more natural way to keep air clean in their space stations, a vital task. The study examined five compounds that are very common in our air, and that may lead to health risks:

  • Formaldehyde: Found in everything from furniture and paper to cigarettes, this material can cause irritation of the nose, mouth and throat.
  • Benzene: This compound causes eye irritation along with dizziness and headaches, and is often found in paint, plastic products and various detergents.
  • Xylene: A material often found in rubber or leather, xylene can cause throat irritation, headaches, and significant issues with the heart, liver or kidneys.
  • Trichloroethylene: A cause of headaches, nausea and vomiting, this substance is found in varnishes and many adhesive products.
  • Ammonia: One of the most common household irritants is ammonia, which is found in many cleaners and fertilizers and may cause coughing, sore throat and eye irritation.

How Filters Help

The primary combatants to these and other contaminants in your home are your furnace filters. These items are designed to catch contaminants of various size ranges as they pass through the system, and need to be changed regularly to ensure they do so.

Plant Filtration

However, the study also determined that two particular houseplants had a high value when it comes to eliminating all five of the compounds above:

  • Peace Lily: A simple plant that’s easy to care for and sits in shady spots, the Peace Lily has become one of the most popular houseplants in large part due to its air quality benefits.
  • Florist’s Chrysanthemum: A plant with bright blooms that requires a bit more care than the Peace Lily – the chrysanthemum sits in the sun and does not rebloom each year, meaning you’ll need a new one each year.

There are other plans that have had limited success in air purification, as well. The red-edged dracaena and the English ivy, for instance, all filter every element above besides ammonia. If ammonia itself is your issue, consider the flamingo lily or the broadleaf lady palm.

For more on how plants may benefit your air quality, or to learn about how our HVAC pros can help, speak to the staff at All Hours Plumbing, Heating & Air today.

Meet the Team

All Hours Plumbing, Heating and Cooling provides affordable plumbing, HVAC, and drain cleaning services in Salt Lake City, UT. We offer 24-hour emergency services and we’re dedicated to providing the absolute highest quality service at the best prices. We don’t overbid, and we don’t underbid with the idea of tacking on hidden fees; we simply give honest prices with honest answers.

Our complete lines of Salt Lake City plumbing and HVAC services include everything from drain cleaning and water heater replacement, to air conditioning repair and furnace maintenance. No matter what you need (or when you need it!), when it comes to your plumbing or HVAC, we have you covered. Reach out to us when you need plumbing or HVAC help, and we’ll show you how easy it can be to get your home’s systems working well again soon!

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    All Hours Plumbing Heating and Cooling honest pricing sticker

    Honest Pricing

    Honest Answers

    We won’t underbid or overbid your project. The price you see on your quote is the price you’ll pay for the work we do.
    All Hours Plumbing Heating and Cooling clean home sticker

    Clean Home

    Guarantee

    We will leave your work area cleaner than when we arrived, or we will pay for a cleaner to come through.
    All Hours Plumbing Heating and Cooling truck with logo sticker

    Always On Time

    24/7 Services

    No matter when you call us, someone will answer the phone. And once help is on the way, we'll always arrive on time.

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