In summer, when everyone would prefer to stay cool inside the home, having good indoor air quality is very important. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor levels of pollutants can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. That means indoor air can be more harmful than outdoor air. Luckily, there are effective ways you can use to improve the quality of air inside your home.
Here are 5 tips for better indoor air quality:
Change your air filter
Air filters clean the air that circulates throughout your home by trapping harmful contaminants like dust, dirt, pollen, and pet dander. Over time, it can get clogged, preventing it from doing its job properly. To avoid dirty, clogged filters, make sure to replace them once every 30 to 90 days. Besides maintaining a good quality of air inside your home, regularly changing your air filters will also reduce your cooling system’s energy consumption.
Clean the ducts
Your air ducts are responsible for distributing cool air to different areas in your home. When improperly installed or maintained, pollutants may settle and gather in the ducts. To ensure that the air you and your family breathe at home is safe and clean, invest in a regular duct cleaning service. Industry experts recommend having your air ducts professionally cleaned at least once a year.
Keep your home clean
During the height of the pollen season, you want to keep your home clean and fresh all the time to prevent allergies. Pollen can easily settle on your floor and furniture. That is why it’s important to clean these areas several times a week. The Mayo Clinic highly advises homeowners to vacuum the floors weekly with a vacuum cleaner equipped with HEPA filter or High-Efficiency Air filters. If possible, remove carpeting and use hardwood or linoleum flooring instead to keep allergens low in your home.
Buy indoor plants
Another effective way to refresh your home and improve your indoor air quality is growing houseplants. According to NASA, indoor plants like peace lily, money plant, snake plant, spider plant, etc., are effective in purifying the air inside the home. For optimal filtering, you should place at least one plant per 100 square feet of your home.
Know when to open your windows
Knowing the best time of day to open your windows is very important in keeping your indoor air fresh and clean. If you live in the city, it would be ideal to open your windows during the early morning and late at night when there is less pollution from vehicle traffic. However, during the height of the allergy season, you would want your windows closed most of the time to keep allergens, like pollen, at bay.
Upgrade your AC for better indoor air quality
Are you having problems with your AC system? To increase the overall performance of your air conditioner, schedule a professional AC Repair Port St. Lucie. You may ask your local HVAC contractor to upgrade your AC to operate with an advanced filtration system. What are you waiting for? Consult your trusted local professionals today by calling their service hotline!
