The air quality in your home directly affects the well-being of your family and friends. When so many people occupy a space, dirt, dander, pet hair and pollutants can build up quickly. If you don’t address the problem, you and your family can experience issues like
- Headaches
- Respiratory problems
- Reduced function of appliances
- Stale or foul-smelling air
Here are five tips to improve air quality in your home.
Install an IAQ monitor
Air quality monitors are devices that detect the number of pollutants in the air. These devices detect pollutants such as VOCs, allergens, mold spores, and carbon monoxide. These numbers will help you understand if proactive measures need to be taken to improve air quality.
Change your filters regularly
If the filters of your HVAC unit are clogged, the air is not flowing smoothly and dust will clog the filters, putting your lungs and HVAC system at risk. To improve air quality, you should change filters every 1-3 months, depending on your individual living conditions.
Turn on your kitchen exhaust…and the bathroom too
Using the additional ventilation systems that are installed in the typical home will help improve air quality. Turn on the vent hood in the kitchen every time you cook to release excess food smells, moisture, and heat. In the bathroom, every time you shower, power up your bathroom exhaust fan to remove moisture which prevents mold and mildew growth
Take a breath of fresh air
Whenever possible, opening the windows and letting a little fresh air into increase airflow.
Add some plants
Not only will a houseplant give your home a pop of bright green color, but some varieties improve air quality by converting toxins into usable oxygen.