One of the key principles of properly working heating and cooling systems is that the home is sealed as well as possible – keeping warm air inside in the winter and outside in the summer. This can unfortunately lead to a real problem with indoor air quality. Adopt this three-step strategy to improve the air you breathe in your home:
Implement Indoor Pollution Control
Sources of air pollution exist in all homes. Cleaning products, paint and appliances such as furnaces and stoves, and dampness and mold can all result in airborne pollutants that threaten indoor air quality. Using non-toxic cleaners (available from most stores) and keeping chemical products in an outdoor shed can help. Regular servicing of appliances will reduce emission levels and properly vent gases outside. Preventing dampness inside the home will reduce the chances of mold buildup.
Improve Ventilation
Getting more fresh outdoor air into the home can really boost indoor air quality. Open windows and doors when you can – ideally windows that are on opposite sides of the room to achieve cross-ventilation. Kitchens and bathrooms are particularly susceptible to poor indoor air quality issues, so use exhaust fans in these rooms to remove bad air.
Install an Air Cleaner
Air cleaners efficiently remove dust and pollutants from your indoor air. The effectiveness of the air cleaner depends on its ability to collect these pollutants and the quantity of air it can then draw through the cleaning or filtering element. A range of devices are available from small tabletop units to sophisticated whole-house systems. Additional measures are required to deal with gaseous pollutants such as radon.
Following these simple steps should mean a significant improvement in the quality of the air you and your family breathe. As poor air quality has been linked to a range of health conditions including asthma, allergies and other respiratory ailments, it clearly needs to be a priority in your home.
For more expert advice on this issue contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning, proudly serving the Twin Cities metro area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock