Your Quick Guide to Improving Home Air Quality
It is no secret that the air inside our homes is a lot more polluted than the air outside. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental hazards in the United States. On average, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, making them more vulnerable to the ill effects of indoor pollutants.
People can experience minor to major illnesses, discomfort, fatigue, and decreased productivity when they breathe polluted air in their homes. Fortunately, homeowners can take some steps to improve their indoor air quality and make the environment healthy and safe for the family. Here are a few of them:
Control home humidity
The humidity levels in your home substantially impact the air quality. High humidity (more than 60%) presents a conducive environment for mold, mildew, dust mites, bacteria, virus, and airborne chemicals to thrive. Low humidity (under 30%) can cause sore throat, dry skin, bloody nose, and itchy eyes. Install whole-home dehumidifiers and humidifiers to keep the home humidity levels within the ideal range of 30% to 50%.
Regularly replace air filters
You can enhance your home air quality by changing the filters regularly. People who are very sensitive or suffer from asthma or allergy should consider investing in high-quality HEPA filters. These filters remove 99.97% of the airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. A regularly replaced air filter keeps the home contaminant-free, decreases energy bills, prevents frequent HVAC repairs, increases efficiency, and improves system life.
Install an air purifier
A whole-house air purifier plays a critical role in improving indoor air quality. These filtration systems filter the air to kill mold, bacteria, pathogens, and viruses, reduce airborne contaminants like pollen, dust, and animal dander, and eliminate chemical emissions and odor-generating compounds. Installing an air purifier keeps the indoor air fresh and healthy.
Clean ducts and vents
The HVAC system's ducts are a significant contributor to indoor air pollution. Air ducts can house dust, dirt, debris, animal droppings, mold, and pet dander if not cleaned regularly. Hire professionals for regular ductwork inspection and cleaning to reduce pollutants and get fresh air to breathe.
Ensure proper ventilation
Proper ventilation can remove stale air and indoor toxins and allow fresh air. Open doors and windows for a short duration every day and keep exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens clean to replace poor air with good.
Grow house plants
Houseplants are excellent for home decoration and for increasing the home air quality. Pothos, aloe vera, snake plant, areca palm, and rubber tree are some houseplants people commonly use for air purification.
Regular house cleaning
Regular dusting, vacuuming, and mopping go a long way in boosting the home's air quality. It is specifically essential for people with pets and frequent smokers. Clean the home surfaces like floors, upholstered furniture, carpets, and drapes to remove common allergens and enhance the air quality.
The most common indoor air pollutants include VOCs, radon, pesticides, excessive moisture, dust particles, and combustion products.
Get the best air quality in your home
Homeowners should make consistent efforts to maintain a healthy home environment, especially when someone in the family has asthma, allergies, or other respiratory illnesses. Get in touch with a residential HVAC service near you to learn more about improving your home's air quality.
When you need heating or refrigeration service, maintenance or repair, call us at Affordable Comfort A/C and Heating 602-574-1205.
