Spending More Time Inside? It’s Time to Think About Indoor Air Quality!
With colder temperatures and fewer daylight hours, families tend to spend a lot of time indoors during the winter season. As most of that indoor time is spent in close quarters with those we cherish most, the quality of our indoor air becomes more important than ever.
Poor indoor air quality can contribute to major health issues – especially for those with respiratory conditions, auto-immune disorders, asthma, or allergies. Even for someone without chronic respiratory problems, indoor air pollutants can lead to irritated eyes, nose, and throat, as well as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
We all deserve to breathe clean air. Read on for 6 tips to start improving the air quality in your home today!
- Get serious about HVAC system filtration. Change air filters every month to ensure your family is breathing clean, healthy air. Air filters can trap pollutants such as pet dander, dust mites, tobacco smoke, and more. They work by pulling contaminated air through a fine mesh that catches all those harmful particles. While they cost a bit more, use HEPA filters if possible – they’re designed to catch the tiniest particles of dust, dander, and more.
- Dust and vacuum regularly. Keeping your home dust-free will help your air filters work more efficiently, which can lead to improved indoor air quality. By using a damp microfiber cloth and vacuuming regularly, you can help minimize the amount of dust and particulates floating around your home.
- Increase ventilation. Of course, as temperatures drop you want to keep the warm air inside, but the downside of a tightly sealed home is that contaminants can get trapped inside! Weather permitting, open a window to allow a little fresh air in (and push stale air out).
- Invest in an air purifier. Air purifiers are a quick, accessible option for improving indoor air quality in the home. They have a well-earned reputation as a must-have appliance for households that want to cut down on particulate pollutants like tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen, and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, air cleaners have gained prominence as an important tool for reducing airborne viruses and bacteria as well.
- Consider a humidifier. It’s not just polluted indoor air that can cause discomfort or illness. The extreme dryness of winter air can also be a contributor. Humidifiers blow moisture vapor to increase the moisture content of the air, and also help reduce static electricity. Humidifiers can help family members breathe more comfortably by preventing dry throats and nasal passages. Adding the right balance of humidity to the air also helps control dust mites, mold, and mildew.
- Schedule air duct cleaning. Just as the surfaces in your home become dirty over time, the same is true of your air ducts. Over time, dust, soot, pet dander, mold spores, and other indoor air pollutants will accumulate in your home’s air ducts, and all that polluted air will be recirculated throughout your home every time the furnace kicks on. Having your air ducts properly cleaned can greatly improve your indoor air quality, and help ensure that you and your family are breathing clean air all year long.
Ready to get those ducts cleaned?
Our best advice is to avoid companies often referred to as ‘blow-and-go’ air duct cleaners and instead choose a qualified contractor–one certified for the task–to ensure the job is done right. Members of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) have technicians on staff with advanced training and certification in HVAC system cleaning, and follow higher standards, ensuring that contaminants are removed at the source.
NADCA makes it simple to find a trusted air duct cleaning professional in your area. All it takes is a zip code to search our online directory.
Click Here to Find a Certified Air Duct Cleaning Professional Near You