How Candles Affect Indoor Air Quality

Candles are lovely, calming, and can add a great deal to the atmosphere of a home or any place where they are used. People have used candles for thousands of years for light, heat, to transfer flame, generate pleasing aromas, and for ritual purposes. Today, candles are still used for all of these reasons- but their most common use is to improve the ambiance of a room and to produce a pleasant aroma. But there can be a concern when it comes to the effect of candles on indoor air quality.

How Candles Affect Indoor Air Quality

Any burning substance will produce soot, which can be carcinogenic and reduce the quality of the air in the space where it is used. Candles made from low-quality materials, poorly designed candles, and candles made using substances that trigger allergies are the worst offenders.
There are a few ways to mitigate pollution from candles. Burn only hard wax candles made from soy or beeswax. Avoid incorrect wick sizes and multiple wick candles. Trim wicks to one-quarter inch or less before burning. Keep burning candles in low draft areas for a low and even flame. Do not burn candles in narrow mouth containers. Avoid artificially scented candles.

Using Active Ventilation to Mitigate Candle Pollution

If you love burning candles, some air pollution in the home is inevitable. For those of us who enjoy a bit of ambient flame, this is an acceptable cost. But there is more than can be done to reduce candle induced indoor air pollution than just buying high-quality candles.

Your air treatment system should come with an active air filtration component that cycles and cleans the air in your home. While not much can be done to remove the smoke that comes directly from an open flame- the air can be cleaned and cycled to reduce the build-up of soot in the air and on surfaces in your home.

Keeping your registers clean and having your ducts cleaned and maintained regularly is an important part of this process. Perhaps most important, is making sure the filter in your air treatment system is clean, new, and effective.

Contact Us

Having your HVAC system inspected and maintained professionally and regularly is the best way to keep the air in your home clean and healthy- even if you love indoor candles. To learn more about maintaining clean and healthy indoor air, get in touch with Fort Collins’ leading air treatment professionals at Allen Service today.