Ways to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the levels of indoor air pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels. This number can be alarming as many of us spend many hours out of the day in our homes. Pollutants include dust, mold, pollen, chemicals, viruses, and more. The impacts of these pollutants on your health can be immediate or delayed. Poor indoor air quality can exacerbate symptoms of asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions. Your health is important and keeping your indoor air clean is a factor of that. Knowing how to improve the air quality in your home isn’t always intuitive, our team has highlighted some of the best ways you can improve the air in your home.

Change Air Filters

Your air filters help catch pollutants that should not be in your indoor air, such as dust. The dirtier they become, the less efficient they are in capturing all the harmful pollutants. Changing your air filter at least every 2 to 3 months can help improve the efficiency of the filter and help keep your heating and air conditioning systems working properly.

Routine Maintenance

Along with changing your filters comes heater and air conditioner maintenance. We take the time to maintain our cars and our appearance, so why not invest in maintaining our home systems. Your HVAC is a contributing factor to the comfortability of your home, and it can benefit from regular maintenance.

Routine maintenance services help make your air conditioner more effective, waste less energy, and enjoy an extended lifespan. Regular check-ups can also eliminate any flaws or damages before they have a chance to cause problems, saving you money on expensive repairs. No one wants to be stuck in the peak of summer or the coldness of winter without HVAC.

Ventilation

Just like you, breathing is a necessity for your home and the air inside of it. Ventilation can help remove harmful pollutants from your household. Flowing air throughout your home can also eliminate excessive moisture and unpleasant odors. There are many ways to ventilate your home, some as simple as opening a window.

Natural ventilation is one of the easiest ways to ventilate. All you need to do is open doors and windows to allow air to naturally flow throughout your home. When the weather permits, this is a daily option for ventilation. You can also use spot or whole-house ventilation. This includes fans, exhaust fans, and your air conditioner. Exchanging air through ventilation processes can help keep you, your family, and your home safe and healthy.

Ensure Pets Are Routinely Groomed

With a lack of proper pet grooming, homes are exposed to fur build-up and excess particles in the air that may trigger certain conditions like asthma. Having your pets groomed is often overlooked, but doing this consistently can go a long way in terms of your health and keeping your home air cleaner

Get Rid Of Any Lingering Mold

Mold is commonly in bathrooms, kitchens, or the basement. When mold is present and not removed, your home’s air quality may be impacted negatively. Low levels of mold may not be the most harmful thing to your home’s air, but if avoided it can become harmful to people with respiratory conditions in the home

Keep It Clean

How often do you vacuum, dust, or sweep your home? These chores help clean up pollutants that may impact your indoor air quality. It is more than just mold, dust, and mildew. According to the EPA, the most common pollutants include:

• Asbestos
• Biological Pollutants
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products
• Lead (Pb)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Pesticides
• Radon (Rn)
• Indoor Particulate Matter
• Secondhand Smoke/ Environmental Tobacco Smoke
• Stoves, Heaters, Fireplaces and Chimneys
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

When cleaning your home, be sure to look out for common pollutants and clean up as much dust and mold as possible. Also, avoid smoking indoors and using products that include these common pollutants. This includes cleaning supplies with chemicals in them. When released onto surfaces and into your home’s air, it can impact your health. Consider choosing natural or DIY options when cleaning your home.

Indoor Plants

When cleaning you may want to go green, and with indoor plants, you can continue the trend. Some plants can also improve indoor air quality, but they will not do all the work. Certain plants help clear the air of low levels of bacteria.

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Rocklin Heating & Air, are experts within Rocklin, California, and the surrounding area. Call us at (916) 890-0909 for all your heating, and air conditioning needs.

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