We all love the lush look of a room filled with natural greenery, but do plants really help improve indoor air quality? This is a commonly repeated “fact,” but few people are aware of the science behind it.
What Plants Do for Your Indoor Air
The problem with indoor air is that all sorts of pollutants can build up when air is stale and trapped. Plants may not help with some of these pollutants, like dust and ozone. However, they do have the ability to filter out small amounts of volatile organic compounds. At the same time, household plants also release minimal amounts of oxygen.
Is Adding Indoor Plants Worth It?
Ultimately, indoor plants might not do as much as you think. Engineering professor Michael Waring explains you would need roughly one houseplant per square foot of space to have the same effect as just running a standard HVAC system for an hour. Unless you truly love plants and plan to pack your whole room with them, you are better off just investing in proper air filters and ventilation equipment.
The Best Plants for Boosting Air Quality
Having houseplants might not do as much for air quality as just talking to Gunthers Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing about improving the ventilation in your Utah home, but if you feel like every little bit helps, there are certain plants to go for. A NASA study on using plants to purify the air in space stations found that peace lilies, snake plants, and English ivy were particularly good at removing toxins.
As you can see, houseplants do help a little, but just having a few succulents or fiddle leaf fig trees in your living room will not remove enough pollution to have a significant effect on your home’s air quality. If you really want to improve your indoor air quality, Gunthers Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing can help. We have been proudly serving Utah residents since 1910, and we provide a wide range of heating, cooling, and plumbing services. Give us a call now to schedule your next service appointment.
