Your home should be an oasis and serve as a safe space for you and your family. Over the past year, though, people have become more aware of aspects of their home that may not always be up to par. These realizations were likely a result of lockdown and spending much more time in our homes than we usually do, but even as we come out of lockdowns it’s still good to reexamine what areas of your home could use some additional attention.
One of the areas of your home that you may have noticed has potential to affect your well-being is your home’s air quality. You may assume your air is “good enough”, but many of our homes contain possible irritants and pollutants that could impact your health. The air quality that we breathe on a regular basis is crucial to our overall well-being. Having unhealthy indoor air quality could lead to irritation in your nose, ears and throat; headaches; dizziness and other issues that could affect our everyday lives. The air quality in our home is influenced by the filtration of air, amount of fresh air and humidity levels. We can’t control all of these factors perfectly, but there are several things we can do in our homes to boost the quality of air we breathe so much of.
If you’ve noticed the air in your home getting a little stale, your first reaction may be to run out and invest in one of those premium filters that promises to filter out any and all air pollutants. While these may seem like an easy and fast solution to boost your home’s air quality, they could actually cause more harm than good, to your HVAC system that is. You see, the more pollutants a filter catches, the tighter the weave on the filter has to be. The more dense a filter is the better it will be able to catch even the smallest irritants, however, this also means your HVAC system will have to work even harder to push air through. Putting this much strain on your HVAC system isn’t ideal and can shorten the life of your system. Instead, we have some suggestions on ways you can improve your home’s air quality without sacrificing the efficiency of your system.
1. Introduce Fresh Air
Part of the problem of your home’s air quality could stem from a lack of fresh air. Houses are designed to be sealed from the outside, which means that it’s hard for fresh air to naturally circulate and make its way in. Opening windows every now and then can be a quick and easy way to increase ventilation in your home, especially when you’re sick. Of course this isn’t always possible, especially during the intense heat of the summer or pollen season, but when possible it can make a big difference.
2. Use Your Bathroom’s Exhaust Fan
The fan in your bathroom doesn’t have to just be for your bathroom. Leaving this fan on for extended periods of time can help draw air out of your home and introduce fresh air. If the noise bothers you too much to leave it on all the time, consider leaving it on while you’re at work or asleep. This will give the fan enough time to circulate the air in your home without bothering you.
3. Change Your Filters Regularly
Your AC’s air filter helps protect your home from many common air pollutants, but it only works well if the filter is properly maintained. If the filter becomes full, it won’t be able to properly filter out anything, so it’s important to replace it regularly. Generally, it’s recommended to replace your air filter every 30 days, unless your filter has a larger capacity, in which case you can go longer. If you have pets or live in a metropolitan area you might want to replace it more often to keep it in good condition. Scroll down to watch JAC Services video on Best Air Filters.
4. Clean Soft Surfaces
Rugs, carpets, curtains, couches and other soft surfaces in our home can hold on to a lot of pollutants from our pets and what we bring in from the outside. These pollutants can then be circulated around our home and affect the air quality. In order to reduce this, it’s important to clean these surfaces regularly. Vacuuming on a regular basis will help to remove the pollutants before they build up and affect the air.
5. Add Plants
Indoor plants aren’t just for adding a touch of nature to your space, they can also help improve the air quality in your home! Plants provide a level of air purification naturally by increasing the oxygen in your home and filtering any pollutants, such as those that come from cleaning products, cooking, furniture and more. Basically, plants are nature’s air filters that work hard to clean the air while providing visual interest to your home.
6. Control Humidity
The humidity levels in your home play a big role in the quality of the air. Too much humidity can lead to mold and mildew which can trigger allergies and respiratory issues while too little humidity can lead to dry air that can cause discomfort. Generally, a dehumidifier is a good thing to have in the summer when humidity levels tend to be higher while a humidifier is helpful to have in the winter months when the air is drier.
7. Invest in an Air Purifier
Adding an air purifier to your home can also be a good way to filter out common air pollutants such as dust and pet dander that may otherwise circulate through your home. Like anything with a filter, it’s important to properly maintain your air purifier and keep the filter clean so that it can work properly.
Overall, there are many simple things you can do to boost the air quality in your home. Our team can help answer any questions you have about your HVAC system’s performance or what kind of filter is best for your home’s system. Contact JAC Services today to discuss best options for your home or business.
