The air you breathe directly affects your quality of life, and indoor pollutants significantly affect breathing issues like asthma and allergies.
In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that indoor allergens are the primary cause of a wide range of breathing problems, such as itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing, and even chest tightness.
You can improve your quality of life this year by boosting the indoor air quality (IAQ) in your home with basic maintenance improvements around your home.
Six Simple Solutions for Improved Indoor Air Quality
You can experience better indoor air quality by making simple tweaks around the house. These DIY habits can help you and your family breathe easier as you kick off the new year:
- Clean your carpets and bedding more regularly: Soft surfaces like carpeting and bedding trap indoor allergens and cause indoor pollution. Changing your bedding and vacuuming weekly can cut down on the buildup of dust and pet dander.
- Replace or clean your air filter: Your HVAC unit has one or more filters to cut down on indoor allergens. Replacing this filter, or cleaning it if you have a washable filter, once a month will keep your HVAC unit running smoothly and your air clean.
- Keep your HVAC vents clear of obstructions: Covering your vents with rugs, couches, beds, etc. will prevent the flow of air through your HVAC system. Unblocking these registers will improve airflow and whole-home filtration.
- Maintain balanced humidity levels: Increased use of your furnace dries out the air in your home, which can cause more dust to settle around your home. Maintaining a 30-50% humidity level in your home traps allergens and will improve overall indoor air quality.
- Add air-cleaning plants to your home: If you have a green thumb, you can naturally improve the air quality in your house. Houseplants like peace lilies, snake plants, and bromeliads all have air-cleaning properties that reduce indoor pollution.
- Purchase a standalone HEPA filter: Sometimes your HVAC system needs some filtration assistance. By purchasing the appropriate standalone HEPA unit for your home’s square footage, you can improve air filtration without professional help.
If you want to take things a step further to improve your indoor air quality, and overall quality of life, you should look for a trusted HVAC technician in your area.
Why You Should Hire a Professional to Improve Indoor Air Quality
While you can take steps to improve indoor air quality on your own, working with a trusted heating and air conditioning service can give your HVAC system a deeper clean.
Professionals have better tools and expertise that can help you elevate indoor air quality in the following ways:
- HVAC duct cleaning: Professional duct cleaning removes dust and allergen buildup from your home’s HVAC ducts you can’t reach on your own. This process drastically improves the overall air quality in your house.
- Improved whole-home filtration: Licensed HVAC technicians can install filtration upgrades like whole-home HEPA filters and ionizers that help you breathe easier. These systems reduce indoor pollution and can alleviate breathing problems.
Additionally, an HVAC expert can analyze your home’s current IAQ to help you determine the best plan for improving future air quality.
If you’re looking to start the new year with a breath of fresh air, your trusted Detroit air quality experts at C & C Heating & Air Conditioning are here to help. Call us at (586) 439-3319 or contact us online to schedule an indoor air quality analysis with us today.