Living in a region with colder winter temperatures, you appreciate that your home is air-tight. Keeping warm air sealed inside your home is the best way to keep your heating costs as reasonable as possible. But what you might not be thinking about is that your air-tight home is also trapping a significant amount of pollutants indoors. And that poor air quality could be contributing to some of your ongoing health issues like allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. But by following a few simple tips, you can increase your home’s air quality and decrease the potential for breathing-related problems.
HVAC Air Filter Care
The filter on your HVAC system is designed to protect the equipment from the hazards of dust and dirt. But the added benefit is that it also cleans the air that is circulating through your home. So maximizing this filtration is essential for improved air quality in your house. Unfortunately, the better the air filter does its job, the less ability it has to clean the air. So you should inspect the filter monthly to look for dust and dirt accumulation. As soon as you notice build-up, replace the filter for cleaner air for you and your HVAC equipment.
General Cleaning
Removing dust and pet dander is essential to increasing your home’s air quality. But vacuuming carpets and other flooring is only the beginning of an effective cleaning process. Be sure to use a HEPA filter for the highest level of filtration on your vacuum. And having hard flooring will make the challenge of removing dust, pet hair, and dander far less challenging. But be sure to address other fabric and soft surfaces like window treatments, upholstered furniture, pillows, and bedding. Reducing the clutter on your hard surfaces like end tables and shelving will make dusting a less stressful chore and one that offers improved levels of cleanliness.
Keep The Greenery Outdoors
Many homeowners believe that houseplants are a great way to add beauty and air cleaning to their homes. But the truth is that houseplants do more harm than good. For the small amount of oxygen that they generate, there are introducing many potential contaminants. The damp soil in pots and planters is the perfect place for mold spores to flourish. And the leaves or foliage is a dust magnet that can be very tough to clean. Finally, anything that produces pollen has no place in your home.
Bring In Fresh Air
We always think of the outside air as far more hazardous than the air in our homes. But only in very rare cases is the outdoor air a lower quality than the air inside your house. So plan times for regular air exchanges for your home. Ideally, you can schedule a time when the temperature outside is pleasant, and the air quality is also in the good range. During the air exchange is also a great time to clean as you can use the air currents to help remove some of the airborne dust from your home.
Air Purifiers
There are many types of air purification devices on the market. But the ones that work most effectively are the professional quality devices added to your HVAC equipment. These devices clean all the air moving through your HVAC to provide the least dust and dirty circulation throughout your home.
To learn more about improving the air quality in your home, call 806-583-3558. The HVAC experts at Action Air Plumbing and Septic can offer tips and a recommendation for a professional air purification system for your home.
