8 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

11/9/2018

Why should you be concerned about trying to improve indoor air quality in your home? The Environmental Protection Agency estimates a person spends on average 90% of their time indoors, and since indoor air quality is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, it’s important to be proactive. And with a new school year unfolding it’s necessary to keep our children strong and healthy.

8 Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Your Home

1. One of the easiest ways to improve your home air quality is to keep your floors clean by using a vacuum with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters to suck up all the surface dust.
2. Reduce the amount of harsh chemicals, solvent-based cleaners or cleaners with pungent fragrances.
3. Another simple way to improve indoor air quality in your home is to place mats at every entrance and consider leaving shoes at the door to eliminate spreading dirt and other allergens.
4. Never allow smoking indoors. While this is one of the more obvious ones, it’s the most important to follow. Nearly 54,000 people die each year from second-hand smoke. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of indoor air pollutants.
5. As the weather gets cooler, you’ll want to bring your pets in; however, be mindful of the fur and dander they bring with them. Bathe and groom your pets regularly, and if possible, keep them from entering bedrooms.
6. All of your appliances that use fuel need air for their combustion process. If they don’t have enough air, dangerous gases like carbon monoxide can build up and create a toxic environment, eventually reaching deadly levels. Hundreds of Americans die each year from carbon monoxide. Almost every home has a smoke detector, but not everyone has a carbon monoxide detector. It is very important that every bedroom has a carbon monoxide detector. Call us if you need smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors installed.
7. Indoor air quality can suffer during the cooler months when it’s tempting to seal off windows and other openings, however, you should open a window when cooking, painting or cleaning. Also, make sure your ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathroom are functioning correctly.
8. Minimize moisture, as mold and mildew thrive in humidity. Keep your humidity level at less than 60 percent. If necessary, you may use dehumidifiers, but clean them frequently.

Although it is important to tighten up your home with weather-stripping and other insulation, a too-tight home can be bad for your home’s air quality. If you have a chimney, check to see if the gases are safely escaping your home. Fresh air is important for your health and the health of your fuel-burning appliances. Without fresh air circulation, molds and other bacteria can develop and grow in your home, causing a horrible health risk to your health.

Think it’s time to start improving the indoor air quality in your home? Our HVAC technicians have the equipment to test your home’s air quality and can tell you whether it is in the safe range or not. If there is an air quality issue, we can resolve it. Make sure to have your home tested after every insulation project.

If you have any other concerns about your home’s indoor air quality, contact your Service Legends professional at 515-657-6634.

Heating and Cooling Des Moines Since 1997

At Service Legends, we take pride in heating and cooling Des Moines and the surrounding areas. Our HVAC services include furnace and air conditioner installation, repairs, maintenance, and tune-ups. Our lineup of Indoor Air Quality solutions includes whole-home humidifiers, air purifiers, and air filtration systems. We can even help with HVAC financing.

Call 515-657-6634 to contact our Home Comfort Heroes today. We’re standing by 24/7.

515-657-6634Request Appointment Online

Return