Healthy Home, Healthy You: 11 Tips for Cleaner Air Indoors
Have you ever stopped to consider the quality of the air you’re breathing inside your home?
Your indoor air quality can often be more polluted than the air outside, leading to serious issues for your family’s health and well-being. You may notice stubborn odors, higher energy bills, or more irritated allergies even in the off-seasons when your indoor air quality has declined.
Ensuring cleaner air indoors is essential for creating a healthy living environment for you and your loved ones. Take the time this week to stop, pause, and take care of some much needed indoor air quality maintenance for your home.
Discover the comfort of breathing better, getting rid of trapped stubborn odors, and removing clogged hair and fur from your air filter. Your home should be soft, clean, and odorless so you can breathe better all yearround.
Here are 11 expert tips from our Maryland HVAC company to help you have better indoor air quality today.
1. Invest in High-Quality Air Purifiers
One of the most effective ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality is by investing in high-quality air purifiers. Quality air purifiers work by filtering out harmful particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and even bacteria and viruses, leaving you with cleaner and fresher air.
Consider whole-home air purifiers like the iWave system or look into room-by-room air purifiers based on your family’s needs.
2. Regularly Clean and Maintain Your HVAC System
Your HVAC system is an important part of maintaining indoor air quality. Regular cleaning and maintaining your HVAC system can prevent the buildup of dust, mold, and other contaminants. When these get trapped in your HVAC system, they build up and filter with every cycle of your HVAC.
Remember to schedule regular cleaning and maintenance for your HVAC ducts to prevent containments from staying in the air.
3. Open the Windows for Fresh Air
While it can be important to keep your home well-insulated for energy efficiency during some seasons, opening windows periodically can help improve indoor air circulation and flush out pollutants.
Even just a few minutes of fresh air can make a significant difference in air quality inside your home. Time open windows for a few minutes every day – in the morning before work or in the evening after it has cooled down. This will help remove trapt pollutants and refresh your indoor air naturally.
4. Use Natural Cleaning Products
Many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can release harmful pollutants into the air. Air fresheners, deodorizers, and spray chemical cleaners get caught in the air and circulate throughout your HVAC system.
Switching to natural cleaning products made from ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils can help reduce indoor air pollution while keeping your home clean and fresh. Look for organic cleaning products or make your own to avoid releasing harsh chemicals into your home.
5. Keep Indoor Plants
Always dreamed of an overflowing indoor garden? Now is your perfect excuse. Plants not only add a touch of greenery to your home but can also act as natural air purifiers. Certain plants, such as peace lilies, spider plants, and snake plants, are known for their ability to remove toxins from the air, making them an excellent addition to any indoor space.
Take some time to plant indoor plants in several rooms of your house to help with natural air purification.
6. Control Humidity Levels
In a state as humid as Maryland, keeping humidity levels low indoors can be a saving grace for maintaining good indoor air quality. Excess moisture in the air can create ideal breeding grounds for mold and mildew, which can worsen indoor air quality and trigger respiratory problems.
Using a dehumidifier in damp areas of your home can help control humidity levels and prevent mold growth. Consider dehumidifiers for your basement, living area, and bedrooms. The less humidity, the healthier your indoor air will be.
7. Regularly Vacuum and Dust
Dust and pet dander can accumulate on surfaces and flooring, contributing to poor indoor air quality. Regular vacuuming and dusting can help remove these allergens and prevent them from being circulated throughout your home.
Set up a cleaning schedule for once a week to stop the circulation of dander and other dust into the air. The extra effort will be worth it for the better indoor air quality you’ll have in your home.
8. Avoid Smoking Indoors
Tobacco smoke contains thousands of harmful chemicals that can linger in the air long after smoking has ceased. Smoking indoors causes these chemicals to get trapped in the HVAC unit and HVAC ducts, where they will continue to circulate.
By only smoking outdoors, you can prevent cigarette smoke from staining your home and contributing to low indoor air quality which can be as harmful as direct secondhand smoke.
9. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can be produced by gas appliances, heaters, and fireplaces. When a CO leak occurs, it is often impossible to tell and be alerted to the leak.
Installing carbon monoxide detectors in your home can help protect you and your family from this silent but deadly threat. You want to be aware of any changes of CO in the air to help with air quality and overall health and safety.
10. Regularly Change Air Filters
Your air filters in your HVAC system play a crucial role in trapping dust, pollen, and other pollutants. Regularly changing air filters every few months can help maintain optimal air quality and prevent the buildup of harmful particles.
If you have respiratory issues or pets, look for specialized HVAC air filters that can help with certain filtering and protection. Always stay on top of changing out the air filters to prevent more dust and debris from getting trapped in the HVAC unit.
11. Keep Pet Areas Clean
If you have pets, it’s essential to keep their living areas clean to prevent the buildup of pet dander and hair, which can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Regular grooming and cleaning of pet bedding can help reduce allergens and keep your home healthier.
Focus on grooming your pets in one room for easy clean up, staying on top of regular bedding changes, and always keep habitats clean.
Better Indoor Air Quality Made Easy
Implementing these 11 expert tips for better indoor air quality can significantly improve the quality of the air in your home, creating a healthier environment for you and your family to enjoy. With a regular cleaning schedule and organized HVAC maintenance, you’ll be shocked by how quickly your indoor air quality improves.
Breathe better, notice fewer odors, and have a healthier home with our expert tips. If you need HVAC assistance today for whole home air purification in Martyland or HVAC duct inspections, ASC HVAC has you covered.