The average person spends almost 90% of their time indoors on any given day and well over half of that time is within their home. Indoor air doesn’t like to circulate on its own and can result in stagnant, allergen filled air that we are constantly breathing. Keeping a high level of air quality within the home isn’t as hard as one might think! Regular maintenance, filter checks and proper ventilation are just a few of many ways you can keep yourself breathing easy all day.
Regularly cleaning and replacing your HVAC air filter is one of the best ways to ensure clean, quality air is circulating through your home. There have been many innovations in filtration measures in the last few years, so much so that particles a tenth of the width of a human hair can be captured and prevented from recirculating into your home. Electrostatic filters are one such option. They have specially designed plastic or metal strips built in that create static electricity that traps even more particles than a traditional filter alone.
Ventilation is another great way to lower the amount of dust, allergens and air pollutants in your home. The average home has several times more dust than the outdoor air because there isn’t the constant movement of air. When the weather permits, opening a window is probably the cheapest and easiest way to get fresh air flowing. Bathroom and kitchen areas can harbor poor air quality as well because of the various cleaning solvents, gas stoves and dampness. Installing ventilation that pulls the indoor air directly from the room and sends it out doors helps reduce fumes and residual smells as well as dust, pollen and bacteria.
Routine duct cleaning not only clears out built up dust and other contaminants, it also can prolong the life of your HVAC system, allowing it to run at maximum efficiency. Oh, and did we mention your electricity bill will thank you because your HVAC isn’t working as hard? Professional duct maintenance keeps all of the working parts in your system in top shape while cleaning any blockages, build ups and replacing old filters. If you have dirty ducts, you could be blowing any built-up contaminants back into your home and nobody wants to breath that, especially not the family members with allergies.
Read more about this topic below and don’t hesitate to call Doug’s Heating & Air Conditioning (309-764-2500) to schedule an air quality audit.
- Are concerns about indoor air quality making it difficult for you to breathe easy in your own home?, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, United State Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Air Quality, Doug’s Heating & Air Conditioning
