After an unusually mild – even pleasant – fall, cold weather has arrived. That means more time indoors, breathing in the indoor air.
Indoor air is not as clean as outdoor air. Indoor air contains all sorts of undesirable things, such as spores, mold, dust, pet dander and pollen. That presents health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues like asthma.
Here are some tips for keeping the air clean inside your home.
- Buy an air purifier that can remove all those undesirable things from the air.
- Install air-heat exchangers that remove indoor air and let in fresh air from outside.
- Have your ducts cleaned to ensure they are not a gateway for those irritants to enter your living space.
- Make sure your furnace is professionally maintained.
- Change the air filters in your furnace as needed. One-inch filters should be changed monthly, and larger filters at least twice a year.
- Check with your HVAC contractor about filters with a higher Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating that can increase the capture of tiny particles.
- Use a humidifier to keep the air moist – between 30% and 50% humidity. Dry air not only can worsen respiratory issues, it can also lead to itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, etc. Dry air can also damage wood floors and furniture.
- Wash clothing and bedding often.
- Vacuum drapes, carpeting, and rugs frequently, using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
- Wipe down walls and hard floors regularly, using cleaning products that do not have harsh and harmful chemicals.
- Speaking of harsh and harmful chemicals, try to avoid personal care products that have them. Use natural products instead.
- Certain houseplants can improve air quality. Some examples include Areca palm, Chinese evergreens, snake plants and money plants.
- While it will add to your heating bill, try to open the windows for a bit during the day to let some clean and fresh outdoor air into your home.
- After doing some, most, or all the above, invest in an indoor air quality monitor to detect pollutants in your home.
Contact Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Ravinia Plumbing can help you improve indoor air quality. In addition to making sure your furnace is operating at peak efficiency to distribute clear air in your home, we also offer numerous other products such as air purifiers, humidifiers, and air-heat exchangers to improve indoor air quality. We’ve been in business since 1928 (that’s 95 years), and we’ve made a name for ourselves as one of the most trusted and reliable plumbing, sewer, heating and air conditioning, and electrical companies in Chicagoland. Contact Ravinia Plumbing today to schedule an appointment.
