May 4, 2021
How to Keep Your Indoor Air Quality Pure *Infographic*
Poor indoor air quality can cause health-related problems from a sore throat to asthma to lung cancer. We don’t always think about the air in our homes but we’re constantly breathing it.
Keeping up your home heating and cooling system is a part of the battle. If you want to improve the quality of air in your home, keep your HVAC tuned up and running well. Here are some other simple tips that might just be a breath of fresh air:
1. Change Your Furnace Filter
Simple but easy to forget. Your furnace draws air from outside and then heats and blows it through your home. Get in the habit of checking your filter every month. If it’s gray instead of white, change it or all that new air will be filled with the dust and other particles your filter is designed to stop.
2. Invest in a Whole Home Humidifier
During the winter months, dry air can lead to sore throats, chapped lips, chapped skin and increased risk of flu. A home humidifier is a maintenance free appliance that connects to your existing ventilation to deliver moist air throughout your home air during dry times.
The increased air moisture helps hydrate your skin and hair and keeps viruses out. It makes breathing and sleeping easier and can also benefit people with asthma.
3. Keep Your Home Clean
Vacuum, dust and launder clothes and bedding frequently. By doing so you’ll reduce your exposure to dust mites, pet dander and mold that would otherwise spread through your air. Be careful to avoid using chlorine and ammonia-based cleaning products as these contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs release toxins in your air that are harmful to breathe and, in this situation, are counter to your goal.
4. Buy an Air Purifier
An air purifier removes pollutants, toxins and allergens from your air by sucking them through a series of filters. It essentially “sanitizes” the air that passes through it. If you have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can be a big part of improving your air quality.
5. Grow Plants
Plants not only release oxygen into the air, but they increase microbial diversity and abundance to combat bacteria and reduce fungus. Studies also show that houseplants help reduce stress. Add a little green to your indoor ambiance.
Your Colorado Indoor Air Quality Experts
Applewood plumbing focuses on all aspects of your home so that your family and appliances are healthy. If you’re concerned about the air quality in your home, call or schedule an appointment. We’d love to inspect your HVAC and other systems to make sure everything is working its best.