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Houseplants are not just for looks or to satisfy your green thumb pursuits during cold, New York winters. By offering a health benefit to you and your family, they earn their keep by quietly cleaning and refreshing your indoor air. Botanically, plants have the ability to absorb harmful chemicals and neutralize them, and they perform this task all tied up in a pretty package that complements your home decor.
You may be surprised to learn that your indoor air quality may be more polluted than the air outside your front door. A primary reason for this is inadequate home ventilation. Contemporary homes are sealed tightly with caulking, weatherstripping, insulation and storm windows and doors. Although this strategy may save money on your heating and cooling bills, it’s a menace to your family’s health by trapping polluted air inside.
Some houseplants are overachievers when it comes to cleaning your air, so you get more health benefit value for the “real estate” they occupy. Ten of the most efficient plant air cleaners and fresheners are:
- Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
- Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendrum oxycardium)
- Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema spp.)
- Aloe (Aloe vera)
- Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
By placing houseplants in your home — at least one, 10- to 12-inch potted plant per 100 square feet — you can remove dangerous gases from the air, including those produced by benzene, toluene, formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Carpeting, cleaners and even home printers contain these chemicals, and large amounts can cause an array of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea and increased risk of internal organ damage.
The professional team at CR Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning offers safe solutions and affordable service in the Middletown, NY area to help you combat indoor air pollution. Please call us with any questions you have about clean-air HVAC options.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about houseplants and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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