We often think of air pollution as something outside—haze, smog, or ozone. But the reality is, the air you breathe indoors in your Hoover, Alabama, home is often more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor air quality (IAQ) can affect your mood and health. Here are three tips to help improve your home’s IAQ.
1. Clean
Cleaning may seem obvious, but cleaning your floors will remove particles that could otherwise end up in the air. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is effective in sucking up dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens. After vacuuming, mop hard floors to pick up the bits of dust remaining. Doormats are another great way to reduce the number of pollutants coming into your home, you’ll be amazed how many chemicals are carried into your home via shoes.
Dust mites are a leading cause of poor indoor air quality. They can irritate your nose and throat, leaving you feeling lethargic. By washing or cleaning your curtains, bedding, cushions, and even the kids’ stuffed toys, they’ll have nowhere to linger.
2. Dehumidify for Improved Indoor Air Quality
Incorrect humidity levels in your home can cause headaches, lack of concentration, eye, nose, and throat irritations, and even fatigue. High humidity levels are caused by normal home activities like cooking, bathing, or even simply breathing.
Keep humid areas, such as your bathroom well ventilated. As soon as you see any biological growth in your shower or on your walls, scrub it off. Another effective way to manage your home’s humidity level is with a few well-placed dehumidifiers. We can also install a dehumidifier onto your HVAC system, instead of using smaller portable units. Aim for a humidity level of between 40 to 60 percent.
3. Change Filters
Your HVAC system keeps your home comfortable year round. But, while keeping your home comfortable, it also filters out common air pollutants. Over time, dust and airborne irritants get trapped in the air filters, causing them to stop doing their job and your IAQ suffers. So, clean or change your air filters regularly according to the manufacturer’s directions to improve your IAQ.
Speak to our team at Total Comfort Heating & Air for the best IAQ solutions to suit your needs. Call us at (205) 386-2056.
Image provided by Shutterstock
