Is your home winter-ready? Everything clean and comfy? Studies have shown that the air inside our homes can actually be more polluted than the air outside! That may sound impossible but frighteningly, it is a fact. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you improve the air quality in your home, and our list will reveal some of the sneaky ways that the air your family is breathing is being sabotaged and what you can do about it:
1. Keep Your Walls Clean
Even though they may look spotless, your walls are likely covered in dust, debris, and other pollutants that are just waiting for a breeze to come along and send them airborne, carrying them throughout your entire home. Prevent this by wiping your walls down once a week with a chemical-free, sanitizing cleanser and warm water.
2. Replace Air Filters Monthly
Most of us are in the habit of checking the air filters in our heating and cooling systems once a month and unless they are completely blackened with dirt, we leave them in place and check them in another month. Air filters should be changed monthly for optimum results. This is particularly true if a member of your household suffers from asthma, hay fever, or any other respiratory condition. Unless your air filters are replaced regularly, the dirt and allergens they hold can find their way back into your vents and into your home. Replacing the air filters is an inexpensive way to be certain that the air being circulated throughout your home by your HVAC system is as clean as possible.
3. Pets And Pet Areas Require Extra Attention
Anyone with allergies can tell you that you don’t have to be allergic to cats and dogs to have your breathing affected by the hair and dander they naturally shed. These are carried on the air throughout your home, coming to rest on furniture, floors, walls, and people. Pet dander and shedding can be greatly reduced by bathing your pet regularly or by taking them to a groomer for professional services. Sort of a spa day for your pet. Not only will Fido or Fluffy enjoy getting pampered, but your family will also enjoy having cleaner air to breathe. Regularly vacuum and wipe down the areas in your home where your pet spends the most time. If someone is in your home has a strong reaction to pet hair and dander, you will want to do this several times a week. Shampoo your pet’s blankets, bedding, and toys frequently.
4. Let Air Purifiers Become Your Best Friend
Air purifiers literally clean the air in your home. Ideally, there should be one in every room of your home that is commonly used, as well as in each bedroom. Air purifiers are especially helpful to those who suffer with respiratory ailments.
5. Sweep And Mop Your Floors Frequently
Just think about the number of germs and other unsavory materials that are carried into your home every day on the shoes of your family members. Now think about the fact that your floor is the catchall for these substances. Every time someone walks across the floor and through the room, the unseen debris is redistributed into the air in your home and carried from room to room. Clean your floors often. Use a natural, chemical-free disinfectant specifically formulated for use on floors. Remember to thoroughly rinse and clean your mop and broom after each use.
6. Maintain Clean Air Vents And Ducks
Frequently check the air vents and ducts that will carry the air from your HVAC system into your home to make sure that they have not collected dust. If dust and debris are present as the system begins circulating air through your home, then these pollutants will be distributed in every room in your home. Make it a habit to wipe down your vents and ducts at the same time you clean your walls.
7. Beware Of Hidden Toxic Chemicals
Take a look at the ingredients list on your favorite cleaning products, Hairspray, perfumes, etc. Much of what you see listed there is toxic to your family and pets. The effects may not be seen right away, but the damage is being done. Several companies now make eco-friendly cleaning supplies. Choose these to ensure that your home is not being filled with poisons.
8. Use Fans To Prevent Stale Air
Fans can be used throughout your home to keep air circulating. Fans placed in bedrooms at night and set on their lowest setting will gently swirl the air around in the room, which helps with sleep. Ceiling fans can be used to keep rooms warm by distributing heated air throughout. Simply set your ceiling fans to Reverse so that they can evenly distribute the warm air throughout the room without cooling it off.
9. Don’t Forget About Exhaust Fans
Exhaust fans no longer just carry away the unclean air that results from cooking. Nowadays, exhaust fans are designed to purify the air and return it into the house. Use your exhaust fans whenever you are cooking to prevent unnecessary substances such as grease from becoming airborne and finding its way throughout your home. Remember to clean your exhaust fans frequently using a chemical-free cleanser and warm water.
10. Call An HVAC Contractor For An Inspection And Cleaning
Having your HVAC system professionally inspected in clean prior to a season when it will be in heavy use is the best preventive maintenance. A professional cleaning will remove any debris or pollutants that would otherwise be carried into your home when your furnace is put into use. An inspection will pinpoint any issues or potential issues with your system so that they can be dealt with right away prior to the middle of the season.
Canal Winchester Heating and Cooling can help with all of your HVAC needs including scheduling an appointment to have one of our trained professional HVAC technicians clean and inspect your system prior to putting it in use for the season. Call us at 614-524-4737 or visit us online at www.cwheating.com to arrange for all of your HVAC needs today.
