Did you know that your home’s indoor air quality can be full of nuisances such as dirt and debris, mold, mildew, asbestos, lead particles and even carbon monoxide? If you think that’s disturbing, were you aware that the average American spends 87% of their life indoors?
Yikes.
Lucky for you, in this blog we will be reviewing some at-home ways to improve your IAQ (indoor air quality).
What is indoor air quality and how does it affect me?
Did you know that indoor air quality has been linked to sick building syndrome (which is a condition where people in a building suffer from symptoms of illness or become infected with a chronic disease in the building they work or reside in), reduced productivity and impaired learning in schools?
You’ve probably already guessed that indoor air quality is the quality of the air that is inside and around buildings and structures. It can affect the health, well-being, and comfort of you, your family or friends.
Don’t freak out just yet and think that you need to burn your house or workplace down along with everything in it. Keep reading for ways to improve your indoor air pollution.
How to improve your indoor air quality
Here’s a list of things you can do to improve the air quality inside your home or business.
Change out your AC filter
Air filters work to keep clean air pumping throughout your vents, but they can’t do their job when they’ve filled up and become dirty. Be sure to change your air filters regularly – we recommend every 4-6 weeks.
Check other air filters
Other air filters around your home include your vacuum cleaner, clothes dryer and kitchen vents. You should clean or replace these common household filters every few months for improved air quality.
Double-check your air ducts
An air duct’s job is to distribute hot and cool air throughout your home or business, creating a comfortable environment for you and others. If ducts aren’t installed properly, contaminants can be distributed throughout the house. We recommend hiring a professional to ensure that your ducts are distributing fresh, clean air.
Use cooking vents
A lot of indoor air pollutants come from the kitchen. Gas stoves can release harmful contaminants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. When cooking, it’s best to turn on kitchen vents or crack open a window to filter out harmful air.
Keep your floors clean
If you have rugs or carpet in your home, you should know that they act as their own air filters. They can trap dust and other particles, such as pet hair, in their fibers. It’s best to clean your carpet and rugs weekly.
Control your indoor humidity
Mold and mildew thrive in humid, moist conditions, and can trigger respiratory issues such as asthma or allergies. Make sure to check the area that you live in and if summer months can bring on humid conditions. If the answer is yes, you may want to invest in a humidifier.
Grow an indoor green thumb
Plants are natural air filters. Buying a few for your home will not only improve your air quality, but will also give your home an aesthetic feel. For small, indoor plants we recommend plants such as ferns or lilies, and for outdoor plants, palm trees are a great option.
Absolute Comfort Air and air quality services
At Absolute Comfort Air in Winder, Georgia, we provide a variety of services linked to heating, air conditioning, and duct system work. When it comes to other services pertaining to indoor air quality testing, Absolute Comfort Air is unmatched. We will perform carbon monoxide testing, humidity testing, air filter changing services, heat load calculations and even install an air purification system.
If you want to experience cleaner and healthier indoor air in your home or business, consider an Air Scrubber by Aerus. This ozone-free Aerus Pure and Clean equipment is installed by Absolute Comfort Air into your existing AC and heating system and then works to remove airborne contaminants including allergens, dust, particulates, pet dander, volatile organic compounds and more.
Let Absolute Comfort Air make sure that your indoor air and surfaces in your home are safe, healthy and pure. Call us today or fill out a contact form online!