How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Home This Winter: As the cold weather rolls in and we begin to seal up our homes to stay warm, indoor air quality can quickly become a concern. With windows shut and ventilation limited, dust, allergens, and other pollutants can build up, leading to potential health issues. Maintaining healthy indoor air quality is essential for comfort and well-being, especially during the winter when we spend more time indoors. In this blog, we’ll explore practical ways to improve the air quality in your home this winter and ensure your family breathes easier.
1. Change HVAC Filters Regularly
One of the simplest and most effective ways to improve indoor air quality is to regularly change your HVAC system’s air filters. These filters trap dust, pet dander, and other airborne particles, preventing them from circulating through your home. Over time, filters can become clogged, reducing airflow and efficiency, which can lead to poor air quality.
How to Maintain Healthy Air with Filters:
- Replace Filters Every 1-3 Months: Depending on your HVAC system and household factors (e.g., pets, allergies), it’s recommended to change filters every 1-3 months to maintain efficiency and air quality.
- Choose High-Efficiency Filters: Look for filters with a higher MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). Filters with MERV ratings between 8 and 13 can capture smaller particles, improving air quality without restricting airflow.
- Consider HEPA Filters: If you’re dealing with severe allergies or asthma, consider using HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters. These filters trap up to 99.97% of particles, providing superior filtration.
2. Use a Humidifier to Control Moisture Levels
Winter air tends to be dry, and running the heating system can exacerbate this dryness, leading to discomfort and health issues like dry skin, irritated sinuses, and even increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Maintaining optimal humidity levels not only improves comfort but also helps keep dust and allergens from becoming airborne.
How to Improve Air Quality with Proper Humidity:
- Maintain Humidity Levels Between 30% and 50%: Use a hygrometer to monitor indoor humidity. Levels too low can lead to dry air, while levels too high can promote mold growth.
- Install a Whole-House Humidifier: If you want a long-term solution, consider installing a whole-house humidifier that works with your HVAC system to maintain balanced humidity throughout your home.
- Use Portable Humidifiers: For smaller spaces or individual rooms, a portable humidifier can help add moisture to the air, improving overall comfort and air quality.
3. Improve your Ventilation
During the winter, it’s tempting to keep every window and door tightly sealed to retain heat. However, this can trap pollutants indoors. Proper ventilation is essential for maintaining healthy indoor air quality by allowing fresh air to circulate and reducing the concentration of indoor pollutants.
How to Ensure Proper Ventilation:
- Use Exhaust Fans: Utilize kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to help remove moisture, odors, and pollutants. Make sure these fans vent outside, rather than circulating the air back indoors.
- Ventilate During Breaks in Cold Weather: On milder winter days, open windows for a short period to allow fresh air in and help eliminate indoor pollutants.
- Consider Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs): An ERV system can provide fresh air while retaining heat from your HVAC system. This allows for better air exchange without sacrificing energy efficiency.
4. Make Sure Air Ducts are Clean
Dust, mold, and debris can accumulate in your home’s air ducts, particularly if your HVAC system hasn’t been serviced regularly. When your furnace or air conditioner runs, it can circulate these pollutants, reducing indoor air quality.
How to Improve Air Quality by Maintaining Clean Ducts:
- Schedule Professional Duct Cleaning: If your home’s air ducts are dirty or haven’t been cleaned in several years, consider professional duct cleaning to remove buildup.
- Seal Leaky Ducts: Leaky ducts can pull in dust and debris from unconditioned spaces like basements or attics. Sealing leaks can improve both air quality and heating efficiency.
- Inspect for Mold: In humid areas, mold can grow in ducts, leading to poor air quality. If you notice mold or musty smells, have your ducts inspected and cleaned by a professional.
5. Reduce Indoor Pollutants at the Source
Winter often means more time indoors, which can lead to a greater accumulation of indoor pollutants. Everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, and using certain household products can introduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), allergens, and other harmful substances into the air.
How to Reduce Pollutants and Improve Air Quality:
- Use Low-VOC Products: Opt for low-VOC or non-toxic cleaning supplies, paints, and furnishings to reduce chemical emissions in your home.
- Limit the Use of Air Fresheners and Candles: While these may seem harmless, many air fresheners and scented candles release VOCs into the air. Instead, use natural alternatives like essential oils or beeswax candles.
- Cook with Proper Ventilation: Cooking can release smoke, grease, and odors into the air. Use your range hood or open a window when cooking to improve ventilation.
6. Get Plants for Inside
Indoor plants not only add beauty to your home but can also help purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Some plants are particularly effective at filtering out common indoor pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.
Best Plants for Improving Indoor Air Quality:
- Spider Plants: Great for absorbing carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
- Peace Lilies: Known for removing benzene, ammonia, and formaldehyde.
- Aloe Vera: Not only a handy plant for skin care, but also an effective air purifier for formaldehyde and benzene.
- Snake Plants: Excellent for removing toxins and converting CO2 to oxygen at night, making them ideal for bedrooms.
7. Get an Air Purifier
While good HVAC maintenance and proper ventilation go a long way, an air purifier can provide an additional layer of protection, particularly if someone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma. Air purifiers use filters and fans to remove airborne particles such as dust, pollen, and bacteria.
How to Choose the Right Air Purifier:
- Consider HEPA Air Purifiers: HEPA filters are designed to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including allergens, bacteria, and mold spores.
- Choose a Model with Activated Carbon: If you’re concerned about odors and VOCs, choose an air purifier with an activated carbon filter, which is effective at removing gases and chemicals.
- Place in High-Traffic Areas: Position air purifiers in rooms where your family spends the most time, such as the living room or bedrooms, for maximum efficiency.
Conclusion
Improving indoor air quality is crucial during the winter months when homes are more sealed, and fresh air is limited. By taking proactive steps such as regularly changing HVAC filters, maintaining proper humidity levels, ensuring good ventilation, and minimizing indoor pollutants, you can create a healthier and more comfortable environment for your family.
If you’re looking to optimize your home’s air quality this winter or want to schedule HVAC maintenance, contact us today! Our team of experienced HVAC professionals can help you find the right solutions to improve air quality and keep your system running smoothly all season long.
Reach out to us now to schedule an appointment and breathe easier this winter!
