Improving Your Indoor Air Quality for Better Health
The quality of air inside of a home can greatly affect a person’s overall quality of life and health. When you breathe in particulates like pet dander, mold spores, dust, and chemicals, you may develop respiratory problems, see an increase in illnesses, and allergies may worsen. This is because irritants you breathe in cause inflammation of your airways. Your body can only do so much at reducing this inflammation on its own. There are different ways that you can focus on improving your indoor air quality at home. These methods will help to keep everyone in your household healthy.
Replacing Filters
Your typical HVAC filter needs to be replaced once every three months. There are certain filters that are only designed to hold up for thirty days. It is important to know what kind of filter you have and when it needs to be removed. Depending on the time of year, you may need to replace your filter more often or less often. When a filter becomes clogged with various particles, they will begin circulating into your indoor air.
Aside from being harmful to your health, neglecting to change your HVAC filter can also cause a problem for your HVAC system. A buildup of particles on the internal components of your unit can cause your system to become overworked and operate less efficiently. This leads to more repairs and maintenance over the years.
Airing Out
A quick way to refresh your indoor air quality is to open your windows each day for at least thirty minutes. Creating a good flow of fresh air throughout the house helps with improving your indoor air quality. Be careful about when you open up, though. The best time to air out is in the late evening hours when humidity levels drop a bit. The air quality in the middle of the afternoon can include some bad pollution and particles so avoid this time of day.
Air Purification
You can have an air purification unit added on to your HVAC system if you would like to further remove particles from your indoor air. Many of these systems contain HEPA filters. These filters do an amazing job at improving your indoor air quality. You can run these purification units at all times to keep your indoor air healthy, or you can choose to run an air purifier when you feel it is necessary.
Keep an Eye on Humidity
The moisture levels inside of your home should never go above sixty percent. If they do, this can cause your home to be the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. If you find that you consistently have an issue with humidity in your living space, you may want to have a dehumidifier added to your HVAC system. This unit will remove moisture from the air and leave your indoor air much more comfortable.
If you are unsure of the quality of your indoor air, consider hiring a professional to come and test your indoor air. This will help you determine if you have too much humidity or particles in your air. A routine cleaning of your HVAC system and ductwork is also beneficial when it comes to taking control of your home and indoor air quality.
JW Goad Home Inspections provides home inspections services to Clarksville, TN, and the surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule an appointment.