7 Tips to Improve Home Air Quality
You spend a lot of time at home, so it makes sense that you want to be sure it’s a safe haven with clean air. Did you know indoor air quality can be two to five times dirtier than outdoor air because pollutants are more concentrated within the well-sealed structure?
You and your family are breathing in everything from dust and fumes from cleaning supplies to bacteria, which grow in humid areas. Here are seven tips to improve your home’s indoor air quality and keep your household healthy:
1. Be aware of the products and chemicals in your home
If you clean using harsh chemicals such as oven cleaners, you may be bringing in particles that will stay in your indoor air. Try to use the mildest cleaning products that will also get the job done.
2. Dispose of excess chemicals to improve Home Air Quality
If you’ve just finished a painting project or revarnished a piece of furniture, don’t leave the old chemicals sitting around your house. Even in storage, they may off-gas harmful fumes. Instead, search for chemical disposal facilities in our area.
3. Weather permitting, use natural airflow for ventilation
If you can open a window to get in fresh air, do it! Ventilation exchanges old, stale air with clean outdoor air. When the outdoor weather is nice, take advantage of it. Your indoor air quality will see significant improvement.
4. Use mechanical ventilation in high-fume or high-moisture areas
Ventilating fans and hoods are especially useful in kitchen, bathroom and workshop areas. Without ventilation, those harmful fumes will circulate your home.
5. Replace air filters in HVAC equipment regularly
Home air quality can improve with simple commitments to the basics. Clogged air filters mean that air doesn’t circulate as well through your home. Check air filters monthly and replace them as soon as dirt and dust begin accumulating, or every three months at a minimum.
6. Add fresh-air intakes and heat recovery ventilators
Adding a fresh air intake can bring good air into your home, and a heat recovery ventilator keeps the incoming air-conditioned even during the heating and cooling seasons.
7. Keep moisture at bay
Managing moisture may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how much moisture there is in your indoor air naturally, and how little it takes for mold and mildew to grow. Clean up water spills immediately and as soon as you spot a water leak, have it repaired ASAP. Go one step further with a humidifier.
Test Your Home Air Quality
Just for fun! Take this Indoor Air Quality Quiz from Quizlet to find out how much you know about indoor air quality.
No One Likes to Breathe Filthy Air
If you suffer from allergies or simply want to breathe cleaner air, there is a lot within your control. From air conditioner maintenance to choosing natural cleaning products, it is within your power to increase the amount of clean air in your home. However, if you want a more advanced solution, there are a number of air quality solutions from which you can choose:
- Air purifiers can rid your air of 99.9% of pollutants and are a staple of home air purification
- Ventilators draw fresh air into the home
- UV lamps minimize mold and bacterial growth on the HVAC’s indoor coil
Call Us for an Indoor Air Quality Assessment!
Give us a call at Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning if you’re interested in improving your indoor air quality or if you just want to learn more. We’re happy to help homeowners throughout Orlando and Central Florida breathe easier!
Clean Up Your Indoor Air
Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning is a full-service heating and air conditioning company and a Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealer in Central Florida. Whether you need repair, maintenance, or installation of a new heating or cooling system, we provide efficient, cost-effective, and professional service. When it’s hot, call Scott!
Tags: air filters, humidity levels, indoor air quality, indoor pollutants, orlando florida, ventilationCategorised in: Indoor Air Quality