Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

The air that you breathe in your home daily is important. You may think because your home is clean that the air inside your home is also clean. This is not always the case. You may have pollutants in your indoor air that you are unaware of. Pollutants and allergens can enter your home any number of ways including an open window, your clothing and your pets. No matter how those pesky pollutants entered your home, there are ways to help improve your indoor air quality (IAQ). Using the tips below you can help minimize your indoor pollutants.

• Eliminate Smoking Indoors

There are thousands of pollutants in cigarette smoke. Tobacco smoke is one of the top indoor air pollutants in the home. Smoking can cause respiratory harm and infection, asthma, and cancer. Cigarette smoke exposure puts you and your family’s health at risk. Smoking indoors also puts your home at risk of fires.

• Open Windows and Doors

Providing fresh air inside your home is important, but you need to be mindful of the air outside. Make sure that pollen counts, and humidity are low to ensure the best air possible coming into your home.

• Change Out Your Filters

Check all the filtered items in your home and make sure they are routinely changed and kept up. You want to make sure your HVAC items are well vented and have the appropriate filters in place. Changing your filters also insures that the life of your HVAC appliances last longer. Air filters are the first line of defense in keeping your indoor air free from pollutants. You risk dust, animal fur, mold, etc. entering your air source when your filter is dirty.

• Keep Your Home Clean

If you have pets, this is an important tip. Keep your furry friend’s fur at bay and under control by keeping your home consistently clean. Making sure to vacuum up loose fur, hair, and dust will help keep those items out of your air. While dusting, use microfiber cloths to eliminate the use of chemical cleaning products. Microfiber cloths can pick up dust particles like a magnet. Using the cloth wet allows you to fight through grease and spills.

• Avoid Being Fragrance Heavy

Overuse of scented candles and fresheners can damage your indoor air. Scented sprays and items can contain harmful chemicals. A study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission has shown these scented odors contain high levels of phthalate. This chemical can be toxic to your liver and kidney.

Improving your IAQ is possible with a few simple changes. It is important to take interest in the type of air you and your family breathe in daily. Have Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning make sure your HVAC system is running efficiently and keeping your home air healthy with routine maintenance. Call us at 405-912-5900 to schedule service today!

For information or assistance with HVAC efficiency, give Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 405-794-8900.

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