Indoor air quality is important for a healthy home environment. It becomes even more essential owing to the fact that people spend a significant portion of their time indoors. The air inside the homes can contain a range of pollutants, such as dust, allergens, pet dander, and harmful chemicals. Poor indoor air quality can lead to several health problems.
Fortunately, you can avoid problems by improving air quality in your home in a few simple ways. In this article, our HVAC experts will provide valuable information to help you create a cleaner and healthier living space.
9 Effective Ways to improve air quality in your home
Before diving into specific methods to improve air quality, it’s essential to understand indoor air quality and how it affects your health. Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality inside a building, including temperature, humidity, and the presence of pollutants. Poor indoor air quality can cause various health problems, ranging from headaches and fatigue to more severe respiratory issues.
Here are some of the most efficient ways to improve air quality in your home:
- Have proper ventilation in your home
Ventilating your home is the first step in improving indoor air quality. Poor ventilation can cause indoor air to become stale, leading to the buildup of pollutants. Regularly opening windows and doors can help increase air circulation, allowing fresh air to enter and pollutants to exit.
Moreover, investing in a ventilation system, such as an air exchange system or a whole-house fan, can also help improve indoor air quality by stripping away stale air and replacing it with fresh air..
- Keep Your Home Clean
Maintaining a clean home is another essential way to improve air quality. Regular cleaning and dusting help reduce the buildup of dust, dirt, and other pollutants contributing to poor indoor air quality.
Moreover, dusting and vacuuming frequently can significantly reduce the number of pollutants in the air. Make sure to use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your vacuum cleaner to trap small dirt particles.
- Keep your ducts and filters clean
Cleaning your air ducts and filters is another crucial step in improving indoor air quality. Over time, air ducts and filters can accumulate dust, dirt, and other pollutants, circling throughout your home and negatively impacting indoor air quality.
Cleaning your air ducts and replacing filters regularly can help remove these pollutants, improving the overall air quality in your home. It’s also recommended to have your air ducts professionally cleaned every 3-5 years, depending on factors such as your home’s age, the number of people living, and any health concerns.
Additionally, replacing air filters every 1-3 months can help ensure your HVAC system is functioning efficiently and effectively.
- Use natural cleaning products
Commonly used cleaning products often contain chemicals that can release toxic fumes, contributing to poor indoor air quality. Instead, consider using natural cleaning products such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. These alternatives are just as effective as their chemical counterparts and are less harmful to your health.
- Monitor indoor humidity levels
Maintaining optimal indoor humidity levels is critical for improving indoor air quality. High humidity levels can lead to mold and mildew growth, while low humidity can cause respiratory irritation.
Therefore, you can consider Investing in a good quality hygrometer to monitor indoor humidity levels and use a dehumidifier to maintain humidity levels between 30-50%. Depending on the humidity levels inside your house, you can also consider buying a humidifier or dehumidifier.
- Avoid smoking indoors
Smoking indoors is one of the most significant contributors to poor indoor air quality. Cigarette smoke contains harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, that can linger in your home, leading to respiratory issues. Avoid smoking inside your home, and ask any guests who smoke to do the same.
- Consider keeping indoor plants
Indoor plants not only add beauty to your home but also help to improve indoor air quality. Plants have been known to absorb pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide, while releasing oxygen into the air.
Some plants, such as spiders, peace lilies, and snakes, are known for their air-purifying abilities and can help reduce common household pollutants. Make sure to choose plants that are safe for pets if you have any in your home.
- Test Your Home for Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that can sometimes accumulate underground and can seep into your home through cracks in the foundation. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon can lead to a host of health issues, even including lung cancer.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to test your home for radon levels on a regular basis. If high radon levels are detected, you can take steps to mitigate the problem, such as sealing foundation cracks or installing a radon mitigation system.
- Invest in a HEPA filter air purifier
Air purifiers effectively remove pollutants from the air and can significantly improve indoor air quality. Air purifiers with HEPA filters can capture up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including viruses and bacteria. Therefore, consider investing in a HEPA air purifier for high-traffic areas of your home, such as the living room and bedrooms.
Improving indoor air quality is vital for maintaining a healthy home environment.
Call professional HVAC experts at Hurliman Heating to look for underlying issues.
Do you feel the air inside your home is not on par with healthy living conditions? Or, are you looking for ways to improve the air quality in your home? Either way, a little help from experts like Hurliman Heating can solve all your problems!
Our teams of experienced professionals can help you identify the best methods to improve your indoor air quality. Whether it’s maintaining and cleaning ducts, air purifiers, or ventilation systems, the experts at Hurliman Heating will provide you with the best solution in the least time!
So, call Hurliman Heating now and give a rejuvenating and refreshing touch to the air inside your home!
