4 Ways to Improve Your Home's Air Quality and Efficiency
You spend a majority of your time at home sleeping, eating, and spending time with your family, which means you need your home to be a haven that promotes good health. Unfortunately, many American homes have poor indoor air quality, which means that the more time you spend at home, the worse off your lungs might be.
1. Pay Attention to Your HVAC Unit and Air Ducts
Since your air conditioner and heater constantly circulate air through your home, they're one of your most important sources for clean air. The flip side is also true—if your air conditioner and ducts are dusty, pollutants and allergens will cycle through your home every time the HVAC unit kicks on.
Luckily, it's not too hard to ensure your HVAC unit promotes clean air. Here are some things you should do to care for your HVAC unit and air ducts:
- Change the air filter at least every three months. You may need to change the filter more frequently if you have pets or if members of your household have conditions like asthma.
- Consider upgrading to higher-quality air filters. HEPA filters can remove even the smallest particles from the air.
- Schedule a visit from an HVAC professional. Professionals can properly clean your ducts, where mold, dust, and droppings from pests can accumulate.
- Add a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier. A whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier will help to keep your home's humidity at optimum levels. The right humidity percentage prevents mold growth and helps your family members breathe easier.
- Open the windows. When the weather outside is nice, open your windows to let in some clean, fresh air for your HVAC unit to circulate.
Along with cleaning your air, applying these tips will also reduce the strain on your HVAC unit. You should see a decrease in energy bills alongside your increase in good air quality.
2. Choose Air-Purifying Plants.
Your HVAC unit can do a lot of heavy lifting for clearing your air, but it shouldn't have to do all the work of air purification alone. Give your AC and furnace a boost by adding indoor plants that both beautify your home and clean your air.
According to a NASA study, some of the best air-purifying (and hardest-to-kill) houseplants include the following:
- Snake plants
- Ivy
- Chrysanthemums
- Peace lilies
- Spider plants
- Bamboo and dwarf date palms
With a little help from your air-cleaning plants, your HVAC unit won't have to work quite so hard to make your air pollutant- and allergen-free.
3. Make Small Changes to Your Daily Routine
Some everyday habits contribute to bad indoor air quality and, in turn, reduce your home's air quality. Small daily changes like the following can go a long way towards keeping pollutants out of the air:
- Use natural cleaners like baking soda instead of chemicals.
- Eliminate aerosols like hair spray and switch to products like gel.
- Vacuum twice a week to remove dust, dander, and pet hair.
Smoking is one of the main indoor pollutants, so if you or any of your family members smoke, never allow smoking indoors. Instead, smoke at least 25 feet away from any building entrance.
4. Schedule a Visit From an HVAC Professional.
Are you not sure if you need to upgrade your HVAC unit or clean your ducts to improve your air quality? Or are you looking to tune up your furnace and air conditioner or install a whole-home dehumidifier? Before doing anything on your own, you should schedule an appointment with an HVAC expert who can evaluate your home's needs and your HVAC unit's condition before making recommendations.
If you live in the Bay Area and need any of the above services, get in touch with AC Heating and Cooling Service Inc. We'll work with you to make your home as energy efficient as possible while improving your air quality.
