Indoor air quality is vitally important. You’re breathing in the air inside your house every day, and the air you breathe in can affect your health and quality of life. It may be surprising, but the air inside your home or office may be much worse than the air outside. That’s because the air inside your home can contain thousands of different chemicals, including dust, gasses, and mold.

Best Tips to Get Great Indoor Air Quality

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air inside your home can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor air pollution is caused by many sources, such as chemicals from cleaning products, air fresheners, paints, and furnishings; radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas found everywhere; and pet dander, allergens, and other particles from pets. It is, therefore, crucial for you to take the help of a company like A-1 Certified Environmental Services, LLC to evaluate the indoor air quality on a periodic basis. However, if you discover that the quality of air in your home has declined, do not despair, because there are many steps you can take to improve. For instance, you can call professionals for purifying the indoor air–many believe that it is possible to get Clean air with the best in air purification. Or you can buy houseplants that can help in filtering out toxins. Know that there are several ways you can make your indoor areas more livable. A few are mentioned below.

Change your AC filter

A clean air conditioner filter is crucial to ensuring your AC runs smoothly. So, if you don’t change it regularly, then there is a possibility that your AC might break down. This might further lead you to purchase a new cooling device and opt for an ac installation. So, in order to avoid all this, ensure that you keep your AC filters tidy.

That said, while it’s a good idea to change your air conditioner filter monthly in the warmer months, you may want to change your filter twice a year during harsher months. Otherwise, as mentioned earlier, you may be putting your cooling device at the risk of malfunctioning, thus forcing yourself to replace it (for which you might need the help of professionals at firms like Brooks Heating and Air – air conditioning replacement in Manassas and nearby locations).

So, try and avoid that by changing the air filters–here are some quick tips from the pros on changing them.

Don’t forget about other air filters

Most people don’t realize that there are actually three main types of air filters used in a home’s air quality: HEPA filters, media filters, and hybrid filters. With an increasing number of homeowners turning toward HEPA filters as a solution for their home’s indoor air quality, it’s important to understand the difference between HEPA filters, media filters, and hybrid filters.

Check your air ducts

There’s more to maintaining a good indoor air quality (IAQ) than swapping out air filters. Air ducts typically collect dust, hair, dirt, and other debris over time, and if that debris is not properly cleaned out, it can lead to poor air quality. This can worsen any allergies or respiratory illnesses that you may have. To help keep your indoor air clean, you should inspect your air ducts periodically.

Use cooking vents

Did you know that cooking steam can accumulate in your attic, causing you and your family to feel stuffy and uncomfortable? If you’re experiencing these and similar symptoms, you may want to consider using your vents as a way to alleviate the problem. Using your vents to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter means you’re keeping your home as energy-efficient as possible.

Keep your rugs and carpets clean

Carpets trap allergens and dust mites, especially in the bedroom. A 2011 study conducted by the University of Cincinnati and published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that mattresses and pillows stored on the floor were more contaminated than mattresses and pillows stored on a bed. Dust mites and allergens are a major cause of indoor air quality complaints.

Buy indoor plants to freshen the air

Many studies have found that plants can improve indoor air quality. Even just having plants in the White House and offices around the world has been shown to reduce stress and improve the overall health of the occupants. In addition to contributing to the overall cleanliness of your home, plants also help remove toxins like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene.

Indoor air quality affects almost every home. Make your home the healthiest, safest place it can be with the tips above.