During the winter months, not only do you want to prevent any cold air from making its way into your home, but you also want to prevent the quality of the air in your home from declining.
Air quality is a special balance of insulation and ventilation. Without a way to break through, the air in your home gets stuck and becomes more and more polluted with dust, bacteria, mold spores, and even viruses. Luckily, there are ways to ventilate your home without letting in the cold. Here are five ways to help improve air quality in your home during the winter.
1. Replace Filters
If you’ve ever cleaned your air filter, you know how much dust and debris they catch. You should be replacing/cleaning your filter regularly for the best air quality results. Buildup on filters can lead to poor health, more frequent repairs to your HVAC system, and higher costs. Air conditioning works by refreshing the stale air in your home and drying out any moisture. Drying moisture can help to prevent mold growth and keep other allergens under control. It is best to keep the humidity in your home around 30-50%.
2. Dust
Dusting should be a weekly chore. Dust, dust mites, and crumbs quickly buildup and decrease your air quality. Regularly wiping down surfaces, vacuuming, and sweeping can help keep your home clean and the air clear. Be sure to check for dust in places you might not consider, like closet shelves, behind the toilet, and behind furniture.
3. Regularly Check for Mold
As you clean every nook and cranny of your home, you should also be on the lookout for mold. Mold can trigger allergies, asthma, and even respiratory conditions. It typically grows in places with a lot of moisture, like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements. While black mold is more well-known, it also grows in white, orange, green, or purple. Getting rid of and/or preventing mold will greatly improve the air quality inside your home.
4. Clean Pets
As much as we love our furry friends, they also contribute to poor air quality. The hair they shed and dirt particles they track in can linger on couches, clothing, and bedding. These items, along with your pet, should be cleaned regularly to keep your air quality healthy.
5. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
When you bathe your pets or wash your bedding, use fragrance-free or naturally scented products. Manufactured scents in laundry detergent and cleaning supplies can emit harmful chemicals into the air. Though lemon and pine smells may seem natural, check the ingredients to ensure that you buy and use a product that actually includes the ingredients their smell is supposed to mimic. Aerosol sprays, harsh cleaners, and scented laundry products can all negatively affect the quality of the air you breathe, so switch to products that are eco-friendly.
If you think your home may be losing heat, contact us for a heat loss calculation. If you are interested in more powerful air quality cleaning methods, talk to us about our air cleaners, UV lights, humidifiers, and thermostats. We can help you keep the cold air outside and the clean air inside.
