Whether you work from home or spend most of your time there on evenings and weekends, the quality of the air you breathe is important. We understand the effects of pollution but don’t often consider our indoor air supply. To stay healthy, here are tips to improve indoor air quality at home.
Improve Indoor Air Quality with Ventilation
When your home is not properly ventilated, toxins, dust, moisture, and other contaminants accumulate. If you have kitchen and bathroom fans installed, turn them on when you are cooking or taking a shower. When using noxious substances like paint stripper or cleaning chemicals, ventilate the space well to remove fumes and improve air quality.
Change Your HVAC Filter Regularly
Over time, the filter on your HVAC unit will become clogged with dirt, debris, and pet dander. When you don’t change it regularly, the filter isn’t able to trap contaminants from the air. The dust and debris will instead be recirculated throughout your home. To boost air quality, change the filters in your system every 30 to 90 days. If you have pets or allergies or use your system frequently, change the filter once a month.
Get a Mold Test to Improve Indoor Air Quality
If you suspect you have a mold problem, have a mold test performed by a professional to get an idea of what’s going on with your property. A mold professional can offer advice on how to mitigate the issue. When testing your home, they will also educate you about how to prevent mold growth.
Maintain Healthy Humidity Levels
When your home is too dry or too humid, air quality will suffer. Monitor humidity levels. If they are too high, use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air. High humidity contributes to mold growth and related issues with asthma and allergies. Low indoor humidity contributes to dry eyes, a scratchy throat, and difficulty breathing.
Use Indoor Plants to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Plants add life and color to your house while also purifying the air. Many house plants, including ferns and palms, beautify your rooms while also filtering out contaminants. If you don’t have a green thumb, there are easy-to-care-for varieties that will help clean the air while adding to your interior décor. Choose spider plants, snake plants, or a peace lily as low-maintenance options.
Drew Inspection Service offers inspections to home buyers and sellers in western South Dakota. Contact us to request an appointment.