air quality

Did you know the air inside your home can be anywhere from two to five times as polluted as the air outside according to the Environmental Protection Agency? In extreme conditions, indoor air quality can be up to 100 times worse than outdoor air. Just shine a ray of light in a dimly lit room, and you’ll most likely see what appears to be a storm in the form of potentially harmful floating pollutants.

While the air outside has natural air cleaners like the sun, trees, and plants, what’s protecting your air on the inside of your home? On any given day, fuel-burning appliances, candles, incense, excessive moisture, household cleaning products, and outside pollution sources all work together to contaminate your air. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to increase your indoor air quality, and the team at Comfort Systems has outlined our top tips.

Replace Your Air Filters

Your AC’s air filters are your first line of defense against contaminants. Because of this, it’s imperative you change it every 30 to 60 days based on the suggestions of the filter manufacturer and your unit’s best practices. As the air in your home is recycled through the duct system, it’s bound to pick up dust, dirt, pollen, etc. Your air filter is tasked with trapping these pollutants and ensuring the air in your home is breathable and clean.

However, when your air filter becomes clogged and dirty, you not only breathe polluted air— you run the risk of doing damage to your HVAC system as well. And this can quickly turn into a very expensive oversight. When choosing air filters, make sure you understand all the different types as well as the pros and cons of each. In doing so, you can ensure you select the best filter for your unique needs.

Schedule Air Duct Cleaning

Because all air in your home will pass through the central air duct system, it’s a best practice to have it cleaned every so often. The best rule of thumb is to schedule an air duct cleaning every five to seven years. However, it always depends on your unique home and situation. As you can imagine, dirtier homes will require cleanings more often.

Here’s a good way to determine if your ducts need cleaning: unscrew one of the register/vents and stick your smartphone camera inside the vent to take a pic. By using your flash, you should be able to see a fairly clear scene, a somewhat dirty scene, or grotesquely dirty vent. If you see dust bunnies everywhere, it’s past time to contact the experts at Comfort Systems for an inspection and air vent cleaning.

Schedule HVAC Ventilation Inspection

Whether it’s your cooling system or heating system, adequate ventilation is a must. You should also have sufficient ventilation in your bathroom and kitchen. If you don’t have proper ventilation, you can run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as well as other effects of fuel combustion.

No matter the appliance, they all share one thing in common: they emit some level of CO. As such, it’s important that any combustion-based appliance or machine is operated outside as well as installed and checked by a professional. This is one of the top reasons it’s essential to have HVAC maintenance prior to the heating season.

Increase Ventilation Throughout Your Home

One of the top reasons your indoor air is often more polluted than the outdoor air is the natural environment has plants, the sun, and more to actively clean the air. Yes, open windows and indoor plants will definitely help. However, you may want to consider investing in an energy recovery ventilator, so you don’t bring in the exterior temperatures with the air.

Consider Your Household Cleaners

Designed to clean counters and surfaces, many household cleaners may be polluting your air in the process. Paints, cleaners, and other chemical-based products usually release dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These VOCs are notorious for causing respiratory problems and worse. It’s best to do your research and learn which household cleaners are safer than others. And then act accordingly.

Contact Comfort Systems for Cleaner Indoor Air

At Comfort Systems, we specialize in helping businesses and homeowners achieve a cleaner, better indoor air quality. We offer a range of customizable solutions designed to meet your unique needs.

Contact Comfort Systems today!

Posted in IAQ – Indoor Air Quality