Do you find yourself coughing more than usual lately? Are your family members suffering from increased allergy troubles or breathing problems? If this sounds familiar, you may be dealing with poor indoor air quality in your home. This can be a big problem, especially if anyone in your house suffers from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues. Of course, poor indoor air quality can make life difficult for anybody, so it is always better to do anything you can to improve it. Keep reading for our top five tips for better indoor air quality, courtesy of the home comfort experts at All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical.
5 Ways You Can Improve Your House’s Indoor Air Quality
- Remember to Change Air Filters: When your air conditioning filter becomes clogged with dust and debris, not only will your AC unit have a harder time providing you with the cool air you need, your system will also begin circulating that dust all around your home. For this reason, your AC’s filter should minimally be done once a season, and several times during the summer, when your air conditioner gets the most use. The same applies for the filters in your other household appliances too, including vacuum cleaners, clothes dryers, and kitchen vents. Speaking of which…
- Always Turn on Your Vents: As basic as this may sound, using your home’s vents to filter out dirty air can make a big difference for overall air quality in your home. For instance, there are a ton of indoor air pollutants in the kitchen. Gas stoves release carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, and even electric pollutants emit low-level contaminants. All of which is to say nothing of general kitchen fumes and smoke. And then there’s the exhaust fan in your bathroom, which you should run whenever you are in the shower, and for a few minutes after you get out. While running exhaust fans all the time lets out too much air that has been conditioned by your HVAC system, using them appropriately throughout the year is an important step to making your home more comfortable for everyone.
- Keep Your Home Clean & Air It Out Regularly: Do you vacuum your rugs and carpets regularly? If not, now is the time to start. These fabrics trap dust and dirt, which then lingers in the air until you get rid of it. You should also sweep your floors on a regular basis, and wipe down surfaces (though be careful not to use too many chemicals when cleaning, since these are not good for your air quality either.) Again, a little dusting might not sound like a big deal, but if you find that your air feels stale or stagnant lately, this is a good way to refresh it. You should also open a window periodically, especially in months when you are not running your HVAC system as much. This will help to let out old, stale air, and let in new, fresh air.
- Have Your Ducts Cleaned: All this talk of dust, and we haven’t even gotten to one of dust’s favorite places to hide in your home: HVAC ducts. Remember how we mentioned earlier that your AC system can circulate dust when the filter is not cleaned? Well, the same can be true for your air ducts, which may end up recirculating the same debris again and again if they are dirty and dusty. The good news is that at All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we offer professional duct cleaning and repair, so your ductwork stays functional and polished for years to come.
- Consider Purchasing an Air Purifier or Humidifier/Dehumidifier: If you live in a house that consistently accumulates indoor air pollutants like dust, pet dander, pollen, and mold, it may be a good idea to purchase an air purifier, just to minimize these irritants as much as possible. The same goes for if you live with individuals who have allergies, asthma, or breathing problems, or there are any children, elderly, or immunocompromised people in your family. If excess moisture and mold growth in particular is your problem, you may also want to consider buying a dehumidifier. There are many great dehumidifier options on the market today, as well as humidifiers, in case your air is too dry, thereby making your skin or hair feel itchy and coarse.
At All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, you can reach our heating and cooling experts by phone at (909) 500-8193, or fill out our contact form online.