Ways To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

4 Easy Things You Can Do To Create Healthier Air Inside Your Home

When most people think of poor indoor air quality, common pollutants such as asbestos, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and radon come to mind. Although these are the most severe issues, there are other lesser known pollutants that can affect the quality of the air you breathe, too. 

Something as simple as cooking or lighting a candle can impact the quality of your indoor air. That is not to say that you can’t cook or light a candle, but learning how to keep your indoor air quality high can help you keep your indoor air healthy. That is why we have compiled four ways for you to improve your indoor air quality.

How To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

1. Vent Out Polluted Air

When it comes to maintaining good indoor air quality, keeping your home well ventilated is one of the quickest and easiest ways to do so. Utilizing stove vents and bathroom vents are two of the simplest ways to reduce pollutants as well as reduce the amount of excess moisture in the air. Simple acts like cooking can create unwanted pollutants in the air that interfere with the quality of the air you breathe in your home. The next best option is to open your windows for a little while every day. 

Opening your windows allows you to remove any contaminants or allergens within the air. Additionally, you are able to introduce cleaner and fresher air into your home by letting in outdoor air. A common misconception is that outdoor air might be more polluted than indoor air. While that is partly true for highly congested cities, the outdoor air around your home will typically be cleaner.

2. Keep Your Surfaces Clean

Keeping your home clean enables you to keep the air inside your home clean as well. It may seem simple, but it can sometimes be overlooked. Regularly vacuuming, sweeping and dusting will allow you to remove excess dust and dirt from areas in your home before they get blown into the air by a nearby vent. You should also remember to keep your clothes and soft furnishings clean as well. The cloth objects in your home serve as their own filters, capturing dust and dirt inside their fibers. That is why it is key to keep these items clean, because the dirt and dust will easily fall off them when moved, causing the air to become contaminated. 

Just as you should keep your home clean and well ventilated, you should also maintain all vent and filtration systems. Cleaning and replacing your HVAC system’s air filters is integral to the health of the air in your home.

3. Have Your Home’s Systems Inspected

One thing you should also focus on in your pursuit of cleaner indoor air is checking for hidden pollutants, such as mold or mildew. These are common issues that can occur without your knowledge, but can lead to worsened indoor air quality. The easiest way to check if you have a mold issue that you can’t see is to have your air ducts inspected for leaks, dust or mold. Since your air ducts transfer the air in your home constantly, any dust or mold within them will directly affect your air. As a homeowner, you can reduce the amount of dust by regularly cleaning your air filters, but sometimes the issue is a deeper problem with your air ducts. 

Having your air ducts cleaned and inspected is a great way to mitigate the issue, but the cause of the dust or mold in your air ducts should also be addressed. In most cases, if you have an uncommon amount of dust or mold build up, your air ducts may have a leak. If your air duct does have a leak, it can be repaired. However, if your air ducts are old, having them replaced can be a more cost effective solution.

4. Get An Air Purifier Or Humidifier

Another solution to your indoor air problem is to get an air filtration system or humidity control system—or both. You can get an air purifier, a whole home air filter or an integrated HVAC air filter to help promote better indoor air quality. An air purifier is effective at removing pollutants from the air in an individual room, whereas whole home air filters can clean the air in multiple rooms at a time. Integrated HVAC air filters are one of the most powerful air filtration systems because they directly filter the air as your home is heated and cooled. 

Getting a humidifier or a dehumidifier can also be a great way to fix your indoor air quality. It is commonly thought that having humidity in your home is a negative thing, which it can be when in excess. However, the recommended humidity level for a home is around 30-50%, making it beneficial to have the humidity in your home at a healthy level. Good humidity levels keep your wooden furniture protected and help prevent health issues like dry eyes, throats and noses. Depending on where you live, you can determine if a humidifier or dehumidifier is the correct choice for your home.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality With Us

At R.S. Andrews, we understand the importance of keeping your home safe and clean, which is why we provide many services to assist you in your pursuit of cleaner air. Whether your issues are with your air filters, air ducts or filtration system, we have you covered.

If you are uncertain of what you should do to get better indoor air quality in your home, you can call us today to learn more about what we can do to help!