Throughout this series, we have reviewed a lot of information about the importance of Indoor Air Quality along with the various forms of indoor air pollution. We’ve discussed the health effects of indoor pollution and covered a list of the various products and services we at Westerville Air Conditioning & Heating provide to help homeowners breathe cleaner indoor air.
Now, in this last part of the series, we will go over some measures a homeowner can take to improve the air quality in their home.
Always Use Ventilation
Whenever you are cooking in your kitchen, or taking a shower in your bathroom, always remember to use as much ventilation as possible. In fact any time you find yourself doing something that creates steam or smoke of any kind, ventilation should be the first thing that comes to mind.
Why?
Because our bathrooms rank at the top of our list of the places that generate the most moisture in our homes.
Aside from the bathroom, our kitchen is another red flag area to watch because this is the origin of a host of fumes that arise when we cook. The kitchen kicks up smoke, and grease, and carcinogens, and other fumes from cleaning supplies.
Whenever you observe any amount of smoke inside, or aerosol spray, or any other fumes or types of particles, remember to find and utilize whatever kind of ventilation you might have available, whatever that might be.
If it comes down to it, this could result in you cracking open a window and using a household fan to clear the pollution out..
Always remember, anytime it comes to indoor air quality, ventilation is vital.
Smart Dusting
The microscopic particles of mold, dust, dirt, pollen, and other contaminants can make the quality of air in a home quite toxic. In order to get a handle over these, and eliminate as much as possible, we recommend something called “smart dusting.”
What is “smart dusting?”
It’s simple. When you go to clean your home and do some dusting, you should do so with the aim of removing all of it and avoid merely moving it around. In order to do this properly, start with dusting the things at the highest places in your home. Dusting off those items first helps you make sure you’re removing everything, because after you finish the higher items, you will work your way downward to the lower items. Throughout this process, the dust will naturally fall downward. If it does so, it won’t end up on things you have already dusted. In any case, “smart dusting” helps you clean out the dust more efficiently.
But there’s more…
In order to make your “smart dusting” even “smarter,” use a dampened cloth rather than a feather duster or dry rag. A dampened cloth will do a better job of capturing all the dust rather than merely moving it from one spot to another. Also, periodically you’ll want to rinse out the cloth!
Before you get started, don’t forget to hit those ceiling fans, blinds and curtains first as they are probably the highest areas.
Pillow Covers Keeps Dust Out
There’s nothing like arriving home after a long day at work and once the evening comes to an end you get to climb into bed with your favorite pillow.
Unfortunately, you aren’t the only one that savors that pillow. As gross as it may be. dust mites love pillows, just as much if not more, and they are known to flourish inside of them. This grim realization becomes apparent in recent studies demonstrating how pillows and mattresses actually gain a tiny amount of weight over time due to the accumulation of droppings and other waste left by these tiny bedfellows. Once you fully understand this, you are less likely to look at your pillow the same way as before.
This is why washable pillowcase covers are recommended to improve air quality. Using a pillowcase allows you to still enjoy your favorite pillow. Just remember you can also keep it clean by washing it about once every month. Furthermore, depending on the kind of pillow, you can always wash it as well around the time of the changing of each season.
Keep Mattresses and Beds Covered, Clean
If the latter concept of using a cover for your pillow appealed to you, you should go one step further and use covers for your mattress too. This is another smart item to use if you suffer from allergies. Like pillows, mattresses can become havens for those dirty dust mites. As such, we suggest cleaning your headboards and bed frames often, especially if they are covered with fabric.
Keep the Pollution Particles Outside
If you are suffering from indoor air pollution such as allergens, remember to keep your windows closed at all times to keep pollen and other particles at bay. More important than that, we suggest enforcing a policy of “no shoes in the house” to make sure everyone removes their shoes before entering your home. To foster this idea, you might establish an area at the entryway designated for shoes. You might also place a mat there for visitors to clean off their feet. Unless you are vigilant people and pets shuffling in and out day after day will continue to drag pollutants inside with them.
A Cool Home Helps Curb Humidity
Do you know someone who’s ever had to get their home treated for mold? If so, you probably realize how dangerous mold can be in a dwelling, or how expensive the cost can be for treatment. Mold can be some insidious stuff, expensive and dangerous. A lot of times, a homeowner might not even know there is mold growing in their home.
Because mold and mildew are able to devastate a person’s respiratory system, the health consequences go above and beyond minor symptoms of allergies. We discussed how helpful dehumidifiers can be. However, a cheaper strategy for keeping mold at bay is to sustain cool temperatures in your home. This will help curb humidity levels because mold and dust mites need humid and damp conditions to thrive. In any case, when it comes to mold, it’s definitely not worth risking your health.
Always Use a HEPA Filter on Vacuum
In the fight against indoor air pollution, research reveals that not all vacuum cleaners were created equal: Certain types of vacuum cleaners do a better job at stopping the spread of indoor air pollution than others. This is why we recommend getting a bagless vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter. This will go a long way.
On a side note, if you ever decide to replace any of your flooring, consider using wood flooring. Wood flooring and other hard flooring can be dusted and mopped so they are much better options than carpeting for anyone who is looking to improve air quality, or who suffers from any allergy problems.
Put Your Health and Safety First: Get a Professional Air Quality Test
Having a professional perform an Indoor Air Quality test is the best and most advisable option when it comes to ensuring your health and keeping your indoor air safe.
One of our certified technicians will perform the test and he will check for things like carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and formaldehyde. Although there are tests that look for allergens, mold, and other particles, it’s important to consider if you need to check for radon or other gases that may be silently poisoning the air in your home.
The most reliable tests are only available from professionals who are certified and qualified to perform them. If you are thinking about using a Do-It-Yourself test kit from a store, you should be warned that those tests tend to be very limited in scope and you always run the risk of it not being accurate. If you have your testing done by a professional as suggested and he or she discovers an indoor air quality problem, he or she can tell you how to resolve it the same day.
REMEMBER YOUR SEASONAL MAINTENANCE
Last but not least, if you are striving to get a handle on the air quality in your home, remember that standard seasonal maintenance will benefit you in a multitude of ways.
When we come out for a maintenance call, we will not only ensure your system’s continued optimal operation (which will improve the quality of the air in your home), but we will also identify any minor problems that might be quietly brewing. These little problems tend to escalate and show up as big problems in the future, often culminating in a full breakdown.
Our friendly technicians go through a long list of cleaning operations; they carefully fine-tune your HVAC system and conduct numerous checks and inspections; they analyze the condition of your air ducts and, of course, check your air filters and every other area that could possibly need attention.
When it comes to your home’s valuable HVAC system, we have a saying: It will always pays off, in the end, in dividends, if you are proactive with your home’s expensive system than to be reactive ‒ especially for those with health issues from air quality problems.
These machines are fine-tuned and valued at thousands of dollars. We understand that better than anyone. And we guarantee customer satisfaction every time.
WE CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY
We at Westerville Air Conditioning & Heating are committed to keeping your home comfort levels optimal. Heating and Cooling is our mission. However, we also strongly recommend you make your indoor air quality a priority to ensure the health of you and your loved ones. Because indoor air pollution has such a substantial impact on your health and well being, we believe you find this information helpful if applied. If you are considering any of the products and services we offer, or if you’d like to know more, give us a call 614-810-0075 or Click Here to schedule an appointment now.
Indoor Air Quality 101: Part 1
