How Candles Can Ruin Your Indoor Air Quality

When your home has poor indoor air quality, you'll notice more health issues. Your allergies are more severe and you have more headaches throughout the day. You may blame poor indoor air quality on things like your pets and dust mites. But, they aren't always the culprits. Rather, those candles that you light inside of your home can cause your poor indoor air quality.

How Do Wax Candles Ruin Your Indoor Air Quality?

When you burn wax candles, the material in the wax and the wicks releases nasty pollutants into your air. Burning scented candles can be even more harmful. There are other pollutants inside of the candle to produce that scent. Apart from the pollutants that they put in the air, these candles also will let off a good bit of soot as they burn.

What Is Paraffin Wax?

It's likely that most of the candles around your home use a material called paraffin wax. This type of wax comes from a material called petroleum. When it becomes lit, it will let off many nasty toxins. This can include polycyclic, aromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde. Letting these chemicals inside of your home can result in many respiratory conditions.

Top Candle Alternatives For Your Home

Paraffin wax can be dangerous to your home. But, it doesn't mean that you can't have other types of candles lit. Two other popular alternatives are soy candles and beeswax candles. Both of these use natural materials that burn without issues inside of your home. Soy has the added benefit of burning at a lower temperature. This allows it to last about one and a half times longer than your regular paraffin wax candle.

Air Filters For Better Air Quality

One of the best defenses you have against the soot released from these candles is your HVAC air filter. Most experts recommend changing your air filter every month. The trick is to replace your air filter whenever it reaches the end of its life span. Its filtering capability will become compromised at that point. To know when your filter needs a change, you need to hold it up to a light source and look through it. If you can't see through the air filter, then it's time to replace it to enhance your indoor air quality.

Call Our HVAC Professionals Today

If your indoor air quality is poor, it's time to contact our HVAC professionals for help. We can provide you with an indoor air quality assessment. We will install the right equipment to enhance your indoor air quality level. We want you to breathe easier inside of your home.