Poor indoor air quality can cause allergies and worsen health conditions, such as asthma. An inefficient HVAC or duct system can compromise the air quality in your house because it can cause an accumulation of dirt, dust, and other air pollutants due to poor ventilation. If you notice some signs of poor indoor air quality, such as musty smells, allergic symptoms, or inconsistent airflow, it is time to work on your indoor air quality. Here are some ways you can naturally improve your indoor air quality.
Vacuum Away Air Pollution
One of the most effective ways of improving your indoor air quality is investing in a good vacuum and using it often. Ensure that you vacuum your home regularly to get rid of air pollutants like dust and pet dander. Carpets and furniture hide allergens and air pollutants, so it would help to clean them regularly to purify your indoor air.
Keep Shoes Outside
You can naturally improve your indoor air quality by developing the habit of taking off your shoes before entering the house. Your shoes carry dirt containing pollen, fungi, harmful bacteria, and pesticides. You carry a host of deadly illnesses when you enter your home with your shoes on, thereby contaminating the indoor air. Keeping your shoes outside maintains not only clean floors and carpets but also keeps your indoor air free of pollutants.
Change Your AC Filter
Air conditioning units are always running to maintain an ideal temperature in your house. As they are working, the filters remove air pollutants and contaminants. Eventually, the AC’s air filters accumulate dirt and dust particles and stop functioning as efficiently. This can cause poor indoor air quality and affect the AC unit’s efficiency, leading to costly repairs. Therefore, it is wise to change the AC system’s air filters to improve indoor air quality. Ensure that you do this frequently if you live near a metropolitan area with high pollution levels or are prone to allergies.
Use Houseplants
Houseplants are an effective and natural way of purifying indoor air quality. People with respiratory conditions can benefit from keeping plants in their homes. Since some houseplants get rid of volatile organic compounds, such as ammonia and benzene, they can improve indoor air quality since they take in carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen. It would be wise to place houseplants, such as butterfly palm, bamboo palm, lady palm, or golden cane palm in carpeted or recently painted rooms for indoor air purification.
Choose Low-VOC Paints
Paints can emit toxic gases several months after application. The paint might appear dry and odor-free, but the toxicity does not fade away immediately. These paints contain volatile organic compounds that can contaminate indoor air. Therefore, you can improve indoor air naturally by choosing low-VOC paints, varnishes, and waxes. Ensure that you open your windows and use exhaust fans after paint application to eliminate your home’s toxic gases.
Schedule Biannual HVAC Maintenance
An effective way to prevent duct and HVAC problems that cause poor indoor air quality is to schedule professional maintenance in the fall and spring. Ensure that you hire a qualified HVAC technician to clean drain pans, condenser coils, and evaporator coils so that they can effectively clean the indoor air.
Invest in a Quality Air Purifier
Air purifiers are essential when it comes to purifying and improving indoor air quality. It is advisable to buy quality air purifiers for your house. Ensure that they feature a HEPA filter that is efficient at eliminating mold spores, dust, pet dander, pollen, and ragweed from the indoor air. Consequently, they improve indoor air quality for a comfortable and allergy-free home.
Groom Your Pets
While you love your furry friends, pets can be a leading cause of poor indoor air quality. Pet dander is an indoor air pollutant. Therefore, it would be wise to regularly groom and bathe your pets for improved indoor air quality. Ensure that you do this often, especially if they play outside a lot. Brush and bath your pets outside or take them to be groomed by a professional to avoid filling your indoor air with pet dander, hair, and dirt.
Keep Your Home Clean
You can naturally improve indoor air quality by frequently cleaning your house to avoid the accumulation of air pollutants. Good indoor hygiene can significantly reduce dust and animal dander. Ensure that you clean your bedding, furniture, and curtains since they attract allergens and trap other indoor air pollutants, mostly if you have pets. Remember also to get rid of clutter that traps and holds dust that can trigger allergic reactions.
Control Humidity
Moist and humid conditions encourage mold and mildew growth that can trigger asthma and allergies. The hot summer season causes humid conditions. You can improve your indoor air quality by reducing the moisture level and preventing the growth of irritating molds by installing dehumidifiers. You can choose the ideal humidifier to avoid allergies and create a comfortable household.
Use Activated Charcoal
You can use activated charcoal to improve indoor air quality at home effectively. Also known as activated carbon, activated charcoal contains absorptive properties without odors, making it an ideal option for people with allergies. Activated charcoal can purify the toxins inside of your house and help you breathe clean air.
Use Organic or Natural Cleaners
Consider using natural cleaners when cleaning your residence to avoid contaminating the indoor air with harsh cleaning chemicals. Regular exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals can cause an accumulation of air contaminants that compromise your indoor air quality. Consider cleaning products with natural ingredients, such as baking soda, vinegar, citrus juice, and essential oils. The natural ingredients also help with purifying indoor air and enhancing its quality.
Avoid Smoking Indoors
Smoke from cigarettes can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Ensure that you smoke outside the house and discourage your visitors from smoking in your home. Dedicate space outdoors for smoking so that you can avoid contaminating your indoor air with smoke from tobacco products.
Reduce Cooking Pollution
Roasting meat and other foods inside your kitchen can add to indoor air pollution. Gas stoves release dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide that you may not see or smell. It is wise to adjust and maintain a gas stove to improve the indoor air quality in your home. You can vent stoves with an exhaust fan. If the gas lacks an exhaust fan, consider opening the door or windows to emit cooking fumes outside. You can also improve the indoor air quality by choosing cooking oils with a higher cooking temperature.
Proper Ventilation
Proper ventilation is vital in preventing indoor air pollution. Increase ventilation in your home by opening windows every day to allow air circulation in and out of the house. You can also increase ventilation by installing trickle vents for recycling and purifying stale indoor air. Another effective way of increasing ventilation to improve indoor air quality is to install exhaust fans in restrooms and the kitchen to eliminate bad smells and remove contaminants from your residence. Ensure that you also remove excess moisture in the bathroom after showering to prevent mold growth.
Leave It to the Experts
We will test your indoor air quality and give advice about the right air quality system for your property. We have served residents of Upstate New York for several years, and we can help improve your indoor air quality. We have a team of experienced technicians to help with cooling, heating, major water heater brands, generator installations, and Wi-Fi thermostats. Call Holbrook Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more about improving indoor air quality in Jamesville or the surrounding areas.
