Did you know that indoor air can be more than 10 times more polluted than outdoor air? This is bad news if you have allergies, asthma or other respiratory sensitivities. Fortunately, you aren’t helpless in this matter. It’s possible to improve your indoor-air quality by addressing factors in the following three areas: source control, ventilation and air cleaning.

Control Pollution at the Source

Eliminating pollution before it’s even generated and reducing indoor emissions is the first step you should take. Many source-control efforts are cheap or cost nothing at all and make a huge difference in terms of air quality. Try the following:

  • Use natural cleaning products such as baking soda and vinegar.
  • Air out dry-cleaned textiles before bringing them into your home.
  • Store paint, solvents, pesticides and other chemicals in airtight containers.
  • Fix water leaks to prevent mold growth.
  • Don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home.
  • Use building materials and paint that emit only low levels (or no) volatile organic compounds.
  • Keep carpets clean and dry.
  • Seal the wall between your living space and the garage to keep auto emissions and other contaminates out of your indoor air.

Ventilate Your Home

By increasing the amount of outdoor air that comes into your home, you can dilute the concentration of indoor pollutants and therefore improve your indoor-air quality. Try these tips:

  • Open windows and doors for natural ventilation when possible.
  • Run kitchen, bathroom and laundry room exhaust fans to remove moisture and fumes from these areas.
  • Open windows during painting and renovation projects.
  • Install a whole-house ventilation system.

Clean the Air

Air-cleaning methods can supplement source control and ventilation efforts, but you shouldn’t rely on them as the sole solution for improving your indoor-air quality.

  • Clean the filter in your HVAC system at the beginning of each season. Check the filter regularly, and clean or replace it (depending on your system’s specifications) whenever it looks dirty.
  • Invest in an air-cleaning system. Discuss your options with an HVAC-system professional.

For answers to your questions about indoor-air quality, contact Comfort Systems. Our experience providing Wichita homeowners with quality HVAC services dates back to 1995.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wichita, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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