Higher Indoor Air Quality Tips For Your Home
H1N1, greenhouse gases, carbon footprints and renewable energy — air pollution is now in the news every day. But what about the quality of air inside your home? Considering that most people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, the quality of the air in your home can have a large
impact on your family’s health and well-being. By taking some simple precautions, you can
help the air quality inside your home.
Take Out Toxins
Check natural gas connections, including those that supply ovens, stoves, water heaters and clothes dryers. Fumes from a loose connection can be extremely harmful. Another way to reduce hazardous fumes is to make sure household chemicals such as cleaning supplies, paint and more are properly sealed and stored, preferably in a garage or non-occupied area.
Hire a professional,
NATE-certified company to tune-up heating and ventilation systems at least once a year.
Make an appointment to check for cracks in your furnace heat exchanger, or to install potentially life-saving carbon monoxide detectors.
Keep it Moving
Another way to help reduce
indoor air pollutants is to weaken the concentration of air by keeping it circulated. For example, installing exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens removes contaminants from the room and helps to control
humidity.
Once a month, check your heating system’s air filters to make sure they are clean and free of debris. Consider changing your furnace air filters once a month, particularly if there are pets indoors or if a family member smokes. You can learn more about
air filter levels in my previous entries.
Sometimes the most obvious way to clear the air is the best way—open your home’s windows and doors for short periods to let fresh outdoor air circulate throughout your home. To control the introduction of outside pollutants, consider an
integrated fresh air ventilator. It attaches to your HVAC system and continuously brings fresh air into the home, but eliminates the majority of outside pollutants at the same time.
Clean it Up
Keeping your home clean keeps common irritants out of the home and helps to reduce sneezing, headaches and watery eyes. Ask us about installing an
air cleaning device or dehumidifier to maintain a constant level of comfort in your home.
There are many choices when it comes to selecting the right indoor air quality product for your family. Air cleaners draw in dirty air, collecting particulates through a high-efficiency air filter and blow cleaner air out. Dehumidifiers control humidity levels in your home and may help reduce the growth of macrobiotic organisms that could cause eye, nose and throat irritation.
Posted: 3/17/2009 1:21:21 PM by Sam