Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Posted: April 11, 2019 by Andy

When you think about air pollution, what pops immediately to mind? A giant industrial smoke stack? Cars spewing toxic exhaust? Burning trash in an incinerator? Chances are you haven't considered that your own home is loaded with air pollution. According to the EPA, you could be exposed to 2-5x more airborne pollutants indoors than outside. To protect your family, here are four easy ways to improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) in your home.

1. Stop smoking indoors.

Cigarette smoking, as we're all aware, is a very unhealthy habit. It's also unhealthy for your house. Smoking inside causes a greater inhalation of secondhand smoke, but it also produces thirdhand smoke, where the hazardous molecules seep into your clothes, curtains, furniture, walls, and other items. Thirdhand smoke can lead to health issues, such as asthma, allergies, migraines, and more. In addition, the permanent damage from smoke can significantly lower your home's value on top of reducing its indoor air quality. Quitting smoking altogether is the best option, but if you don't want to quit smoking, at least do it outdoors.

2. Use fans and dehumidifiers.

Areas in your home that harbor moisture are bad for your indoor air quality. Why? Because mold and mildew thrive in these areas. If anyone in your family suffers from allergies or asthma, damp conditions can make the symptoms even worse. To limit moisture buildup, run the fans in your bathrooms and kitchen. The circulating air keeps the area drier and dissuades mold growth. If your basement often gets damp, we recommend purchasing a dehumidifier. If that doesn't help enough, consult a basement waterproofing company.

3. Tidy up the place!

Dust is a significant contributor to indoor air pollution. Be sure to sweep and mop regularly to keep dust to a minimum. Doormats do a great job of preventing excess debris from getting into your home. Always be sure to vacuum the doormat you keep inside as well. Also, vacuums with disposable bags or emptiable canisters are better for dust reduction than ones with reusable bags.

4. Replace your system's filter regularly.

Your heating and cooling system's air filter is an essential component, and you should replace it regularly, based on your manufacturer's recommendations. If you haven't been following our first recommendation, you should check your filter right now. Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoke clogs a filter much faster than normal.

For more recommendations, give us a call! We're always happy to help. If your current system doesn't seem to be doing the job adequately, our experts will get it working as well as possible or replace it with a new, more efficient unit to ensure your family's comfort. That's how neighbors should treat neighbors!™