Ways to Improve The Air Quality In Your Home

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified indoor air pollution as one of its three greatest environmental concerns.
Most of us spend 80-90 percent of our time indoors, at home or work, breathing air that has been contaminated by chemical traces from cleaning products, exhaust fumes from nearby highways or factories, mold spores, airborne bacteria, crumbling insulation, decaying books, and magazines—the list goes on and on.

What Are Ways You Can Improve the Air Quality in Your Home?

Here are a few suggestions that will help you improve the air quality in your home or place of business.

Develop A Cleaning Routine

Clean weekly in the areas you occupy the most and monthly everywhere else (basements, attics, garages, storerooms, etc.). Dust with a damp cloth, use non-chemical cleaning solutions, and don’t neglect any areas where dust or debris might accumulate.

Get the Air Flowing Throughout the House

Open windows instead of turning on the air conditioner. Put in screen doors and use them when the weather is good. Install ceiling fans or a whole-house fan to boost your home’s ventilation. If you’ve been closing off some rooms open them up again and open the windows to air them out.

Bathe and Groom Your Dogs and Cats regularly

It’s especially important to do this in the wintertime. Of course, you don’t need to put your cat in the bathtub (good luck with that if you try), but both cats and dogs should be thoroughly brushed at least twice a week.

Ventilate Damp Areas

Mold and mildew are your enemies, and they thrive on excessive moisture. Fans in bathrooms or basements or other spaces where moisture is prevalent will help, and you may want to purchase a dehumidifier for those locations as well.

Eliminate Sources of Dirty Smoke

Don’t smoke indoors, and if you use candles purchase the non-toxic types. If you have a fireplace keep the chimney and flue as clean as possible and only burn dried or cured wood.

Wash Your Drapes, Blankets, and Fabric Shower Curtains

Dust collects everywhere in our homes and these sources are frequently overlooked.

Stop Using Commercial Air Fresheners

They often contain potentially harmful contaminants. Get vaporizers or diffusers that use essential oils instead or boil a pot of cinnamon and let it simmer in a central location for a few hours.

Remodel for Cleanliness and Better Air Quality

If you have the opportunity to remodel, choose hardwood floors over the carpet, add windows and wall vents if you can, remove any walls that restrict airflow and build additions that can be used to store any sources of airborne pollution you’re currently keeping in your home.

Get Some Plants That Filter Out Airborne Toxins

Did you know some houseplants can do this? Some good choices include English ivy, peace lilies, snake plants, or chrysanthemums.

Replace Your HVAC Air Filters Every Other Month or as Needed

Most people forget to do this, and as a result, their air filters get so clogged, that they can barely function at all. When you buy new air filters don’t get the cheap fiberglass kind, they’re ineffective and need to be changed constantly.

Purchase Air Quality Improvement Products

Air purifiers, ventilators, humidifiers, and UV lamps can eliminate prodigious amounts of indoor contaminants. Contact your HVAC contractor will be glad to consult with you and help you choose air quality products that meet your specific needs.

Breathing Bad Indoor Air? Act Now and Don’t Delay

If you’re breathing contaminated air, it can and will make you sick. A passive approach to the problem is a losing strategy, and the sooner you get proactive with your indoor air quality the better off you and your family will be.

Sheldon's Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help, please call us today so we can make sure your air is of the highest quality in your home.