5 Tips to Help Improve your Home’s IAQ

We often place a lot of importance on outdoor air pollution. But the truth is, the air we breathe indoors is often more polluted than the outdoor. This can have a bearing on your mood and health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, most of us spend about 90 percent of our time indoors, yet the concentration of some pollutants is often two to five times higher than in typical outdoor air. It’s essential to have the right indoor air quality system (IAQ) in place in your Cleburne, TX, home. Here are five tips to help improve your home’s IAQ:

Ventilate

Modern homes are sealed and insulated to conserve energy. As a result, the same air recirculates around your home, and pollutants have no way to escape. This is a problem for IAQ.

Open your windows, and let fresh air into your home. Even in the cold months, open your windows from time to time to allow fresh air inside. Circulate the fresh air around your home by switching on the ceiling fan. Turn on the extractor and exhaust fans while cooking or showering.

Clean

This may seem obvious, but keeping your floors clean will remove particles that would otherwise end up in the air. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is effective in sucking up pet dander, dust mites and other allergens. In high-traffic areas, vacuum the same area a few times. Mop hard floors after vacuuming to pick up any dust that your vacuum left. Using doormats is another great solution. You’d be surprised how many chemicals come into your home via dirt on shoes. A doormat reduces the number of pollutants entering your home.

A leading cause of poor air quality is dust mites. They can irritate your throat and nose, making you feel lethargic. Dust mites often linger in fabric, such as in cushions, curtains, bedding and even in kids’ stuffed toys. Therefore, it’s important to wash or clean these items regularly. Also, keep pets off your sofa or bed to minimize their hair on your furniture.

Purify

Some contaminants are so small that they can escape the vacuum. Family members who have allergies can benefit from the use of an air cleaner or purifier, especially if you have pets. A variety of air cleaners and purifiers on the market are effective in capturing irritants and removing particles. Check an air cleaner’s percentage efficiency rate to find out it’s effectiveness. As a result, you can pick the best model.

Dehumidify

Incorrect humidity levels in your home can cause:

• Headaches.
• Fatigue.
• Concentration problems.
• Skin problems.
• Nose, eye and throat irritations.

They can also worsen asthma or other upper respiratory conditions. Humidity rises in your home due to activities such as bathing, cooking or even just breathing. High humidity levels are a breeding ground for biological growth.

Make sure you ventilate bathrooms and other humid areas well. Scrub off any signs of biological growth that may collect in the shower, on walls or on fixtures. A dehumidifier can help you manage the IAQ in your home. Aim for a humidity between 40 and 60 percent.

Filter

Change your HVAC air filter regularly according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Dust and other airborne irritants can get trapped in the air filter. As a result, they can contaminate the air. Check how dirty your air ducts are, and consider having them cleaned to remove trapped dust.

Speak to our team at Airmasters AC, Heat, Plumbing & Electrical for the best IAQ solution to suit your needs. We offer a range of indoor air quality systems to ensure that your home has clean and healthy air all year round.

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