Good Indoor Air Quality Depends on the Right Heating and Air Conditioning Service
Ideally, your home is a safe and restful place where loved ones can come and take a break from the stress of day-to-day life. If you don’t have great air quality, it could be impacting your health and rest without you even realizing it. The EPA has reported that most indoor air is actually 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Think about all the chemicals and particles that get introduced into your home – hair spray, cooking fumes, sneezes, pet dander, and cleaning products. The list is endless. The key to improving your indoor air quality is hiring a team that is knowledgeable, experienced, and available to answer any question – big or small. You should already have regular maintenance completed on your HVAC system to keep it running efficiently. They are just HVAC specialists, why do you need to ask them about air quality? Here are a few reasons to ask their advice:
- Keeps your Loved Ones Healthy – The air in your home, especially in the colder months, is cycled through your home over and over. It doesn’t really mix with fresh air unless you have your windows open frequently. Whether you live with someone who suffers from respiratory issues, or you just don’t like the idea of breathing in all the little “floaties” that accumulate in the air, taking steps to improve air quality can really be helpful. There are obvious signs of air contaminants like a scratchy throat, watery eyes, and constant sneezing. Other signs of indoor pollutants, according to the EPA, can include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and sometimes even cancer.
- Help you Monitor Air Quality – In order to combat the indoor pollutants that are constantly coming into your home, it is essential to team up with a knowledgeable company. You also need to know where you stand – is your air a little polluted or a lot? Is there a certain tactic to tackle irritating cooking fumes and another to reduce the impact of pet dander in the air? Regular maintenance will reduce the pollutants in the air by ensuring everything is running smoothly and there aren’t any issues that allow irritants to slip into the air cycle.
- Keep up to date with the Latest IAQ Products – IAQ stands for Indoor Air Quality and these products are made with health in mind. If you are in the market for a new HVAC system or part of the system, keep an eye out for products with an IAQ tag on them. You can also talk to your HVAC specialist about the best options for your home. Installing a separate air purifier can improve the IAQ but it’s important to make sure the purifier you select is big enough to keep up with the space of your home. Many new HVAC systems come with purifiers as part of it, so that is also an option. Another product that may help is a humidifier or a dehumidifier, depending on your situation. A dehumidifier can reduce the chance of mold or mildew growing in your home. At the same time, a humidifier can help if you are dealing with asthma, bronchitis, chronic nosebleeds, or other ailments. Discuss with your HVAC the ideal level of humidity in your home and what IAQ products would fit into your budget and your home.
- Some Quick Tips you can Do Yourself – the easiest thing you can do on your own to improve the air quality in your home, while also improving the efficiency of your HVAC system, is to regularly change your HVAC filter. Most filters need to be changed about every 3 months. You can also opt to upgrade the filter to a higher quality one, which will target a broader spectrum of air particles and clean the air more. If you aren’t sure how to change the filter, just ask your HVAC person to give you a quick demo during their next visit. Not great at remembering things like this? No problem – sign up for an auto-delivery service. That way you know when the filter arrives, it is time to change it out. You can also clean the floors of your home regularly with a vacuum and a mop. Whatever dust, dirt, or debris that gets tracked inevitably gets tracked in will be reduced with regular cleaning. A good front door mat will also aid in this. Another tip – don’t forget to run the stove fan when cooking. It redirects the fumes and oils outside, so you have fewer pollutants indoors.
Often overlooked, the air within your home is really important to your overall health and the overall health of your loved ones. Cleaner air could be the answer to better sleep, less illness, and a longer and less stressful life. Contact Weather Crafters to schedule your next visit and our capable team will also help you to clean up the air quality in your home.
