Billowing industrial smokestacks? These images come readily into our minds whenever someone mentions air pollution but then again so do bumper-to-bumper interstate traffic jams and heavy industry chimneys.
We often forget about indoor air quality: does your home have adequate ventilation systems? How clean has yesterday’s dinner been left cooking all day long? Where was the last time you changed those filters indoors?
There’s a good chance that the air you’re breathing indoors could be just as toxic or more so than outdoors. A staggering 87% of your time is spent in indoor spaces, but many of us don’t think about how bad it can really get inside our homes.
Aside from ensuring your home scent is to your liking, you need to also make sure your indoor air quality is exceptional. Below are some of the ways you can improve indoor air quality significantly:
Change your AC filter.
Air conditioning systems are always working to give your home that perfect temperature all year round. But while they’re cycling through all that air, their filters stop filtering out the common pollutants. Eventually, those filters fill up and start letting these harmful substances leak into your home’s atmosphere.
The air conditioning filter is the first line of defense in your AC system. Without it, dirt and pollution can get into your home’s HVAC equipment and cause costly repairs down the road! Be sure to change filters regularly or invest in an annual plan that includes a regular filter replacement.
Don’t neglect other air filters.
You have a lot of work when it comes to keeping your home clean, but the job isn’t done just with an AC filter. If you want better air quality in your house, be sure to check all those other filters too.
Your vacuum cleaner needs its dust bag changed every few months, and so do both the dryer vents and kitchen exhaust fan vent. Just because they’re not as necessary doesn’t mean that they don’t make things worse if neglected for long periods of time.
Check your air ducts.
Air ducts are responsible for distributing hot and cold air throughout your home, providing a comfortable climate in every room. But if they’re not installed properly or maintained, then the dirt from one room might end up floating around to another.
Over time dust can accumulate inside them- so let’s make sure that our dirty little friend doesn’t get any closer than it needs to be by hiring professionals who know how these things work.
Air ducts help you maintain convenience with an even temperature across all rooms of your house but without proper installation or maintenance they could also distribute contaminants into other parts of the house as well over time which is why many homeowners hire professional service providers.
Make use of cooking vents.
Pollutants from the kitchen can harm your health. Gas stoves release contaminants including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide while electric burners produce other particles that may be easily absorbed into your bloodstream.
So, when you’re cooking remember to turn on the kitchen vents or open a window for more filtering of air pollutants and protect yourself in this way so as not to risk potential cancer-causing elements indoors.
Keep your carpets and rugs clean.
Carpets and rugs act as their own air filters, trapping dust and other particles in the fibers. They are one of the best ways to improve your indoor air quality while also adding comfort. Why not vacuum up all those pesky allergens every week?
Rugs help filter out pollutants like pollen or pet hair from entering our homes so why not clean them weekly for optimum protection against allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes or sneezing fits.