When most people think about air pollution, what comes to mind is poor air quality from smog, too much traffic, and other things that affect the outdoors. Outdoor air quality is certainly important, but so is indoor air quality. After all, you almost certainly spend the majority of your time indoors, so the air quality in your home will always affect your health more than anything outside. With that being said, here are just five ideas for improving the air quality inside your home.
1. Change Your HVAC Filter
Your HVAC filter removes dust, dander, pollen, and other pollutants from the air as it moves through your home’s ducts. Naturally, it gets very dirty, especially if you don’t keep up with your housecleaning or you have a large family. The filter needs to be replaced regularly, which is a simple enough task that won’t cost you a lot of time and money. Some higher-end filters can last six to nine months, but it’s always best to swap out filters once a month.
2. Keep Your House Clean
Regular cleaning can go a long way towards improving your home’s air quality. Dust all hard surfaces, vacuum your carpets once a week, and try to keep clutter to a minimum.
3. Use Your Fan and Vents Whenever You Cook
Between the small amounts of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves to smoke when you accidentally burn your dinner, cooking can practically ruin the air quality in your home. We’re not saying that you should never use your stove, but do so carefully whenever you cook a meal at home. Open the vents above your stove, turn on the fan, and open a couple of windows to clear the air when you’re preparing your dinner.
4. Invest in an Air Purifier
Air purifiers remove pollutants from the air in your home, but they are often more effective than your HVAC filter. You can buy smaller portable air purifiers if you live in a smaller space or only have issues in one room, but you can also install an air purifier that is built into your HVAC system and affects your entire home.
5. Schedule Regular HVAC Tune-Ups
Your HVAC system does far more than maintain a comfortable temperature in your home; it also maintains its humidity and filters harmful particles from the surrounding air. It needs to be kept in good working condition with regular maintenance. You can complete some of this maintenance yourself by doing things like replacing your HVAC filters and cleaning the dust from your air vents, but you also need to schedule regular HVAC tune-ups. This should be done at least once a year, preferably in the spring or fall when temperatures outside are relatively mild. An HVAC contractor can complete this tune-up for you, so contact one in your neighborhood to make an appointment if you haven’t done so this year already. Not only will it extend the life of your HVAC system, but it might help you breathe more easily in your home.
