Four Ways to Change Your Home’s Air Quality for the Better

When you think of air pollution, what pops into your mind? A giant smoke stack? Cars spewing exhaust? A trash incinerator? Chances are, you may not have considered that your own home is full of air pollution. According to the EPA, you may be exposed to 2-5 times more airborne pollutants by staying indoors than if you were outside. To protect yourself and your loved ones, here’s four ways to improve your home’s IAQ (indoor air quality):

1) Prohibit Cigarette Smoking Indoors

Cigarette smoking, as we all are aware, is unhealthy for people. It’s also unhealthy for your house. Smoking inside produces secondhand smoke. It also produces thirdhand smoke, where the molecules seep into clothes, curtains, furniture, ceilings, and other items. Thirdhand smoke can still trigger adverse health effects, like asthma, allergies, migraines and more. The permanent damage can significantly lower your home value, on top of reducing the air quality. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, just go outside.

2) Use Fans/Dehumidifiers

Areas that harbor moisture are bad for your air quality. Why? Because mold and mildew love these areas. If you or a loved one has allergies/asthma, you’re in for a lot of trouble. To prevent this, run fans in the bathrooms and kitchen. This will keep the area dry and dissuade mold growth. If your basement often gets damp, Western Sales and Services recommends purchasing a dehumidifier.

3) Tidy Up

Dust is a major contributor to indoor air pollution. Be sure to sweep, vacuum, and mop regularly to keep dust at bay. Door mats are a great way to prevent excess debris from getting in. Always vacuum the door mat you keep inside. Also, vacuums with disposable bags are better for dust reduction than reusable ones.

4) Replace Filters

Your HVAC system has an air filter. It should be replaced constantly, based on your manufacturer’s recommendations. If you haven’t been following recommendation 1, you should check your filter right now. Cigarette smoke makes filters get dirty much faster than normal.

For more recommendations, call Western Sales and Services at 205-787-8674. We’re pleased to provide heating and cooling to the Birmingham, AL area. In addition to providing comfort, our systems will improve your air quality when properly maintained.