Millions of Americans suffer from allergies, and even most who don’t are concerned about the impact of bad air quality on their health. In reality, indoor air quality is often far worse than outdoor air quality, as chemicals and allergens can be trapped inside. In this blog, our Virginia air conditioning experts look at 7 ways to improve the quality of your home.
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1. Regularly Change Your Filters
Changing your home’s air filters isn’t just important for your health and your home’s air quality – it’s also important for the efficiency of your HVAC system. When filters get dirty, the airflow is restricted, and dust, pollen, and other allergens can spread throughout your home. Ask a professional HVAC technician about using HEPAfilters to block most allergens from moving through your air conditioning or heating system. They can be too powerful for some homes since these thick filters can cause a strain on airflow from the air handler, so make sure that you ask a professional to find out which filters are best for your systems.
2. Vacuum Often
We all like to keep a clean home, but many people fail to realize the incredible impact vacuuming can have on your home’s air quality. This is especially true in homes with carpet, as the fibers can trap pollutants which later spread when the carpet is stepped on. For maximum benefit, be sure to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
3. Dehumidify When The AC Is Off
Air conditioners actually dehumidify the air while the work, so it’s in your best interest to turn the dehumidifier OFF while the AC is running. When the air conditioner is not running, however, a dehumidifier is an effective way to help stop the growth of mold, mildew, and other allergens that thrive on moisture.
4. Get Some Indoor Plants
Research from NASA has found that indoor plants actually help purify the air in your home, as the leaves and roots absorb pollutants in the air. Of course, it’s important to take care of the plant, and the leaves should be dusted regularly.
5. Avoid Chemical Air Fresheners
While many take “going green” a little too far, there is real cause for concern when it comes to exposure to chemical fragrances. Many of these products are not actually tested for safety when inhaled, only for skin irritation. One group of chemicals, phthalates, have been found to disrupt hormones in animals.
6. Use an Air Purifier
An effective air purifier is the Lennox PureAir™ system, which eliminates everything from bacteria and dust to odors and chemical vapors. It uses a powerful MERV 16 media filter which will stop 95% of particles down to .3 microns in size. Then there is the GPS-2400, which sends out natural oxidizers which target odors and contaminants.
7. Use Ultraviolet Lights
When it comes to eliminating microbes and mold spores, ultraviolet light emitted from UV lamps is within the “germicidal spectrum” which disrupts the DNA of microorganisms so they fail to reproduce and prevent causing harm. The spectrum isn’t harmful to humans or animals. They require little maintenance and do not use any chemicals to remove indoor pollutants.
For more information, contact our Sterling heating and AC technicians at Donmar Company Heating & Cooling today.