Ways To Improve Your Home’s Air Quality During Winter
Spending all of your waking hours indoors during the winter is one way to stay comfortable and warm, but it significantly affects your indoor air quality. Unfortunately, some of these effects can even lead to health problems, which will not put you in a festive mood for celebrating the holidays.
Luckily, there are a few precautions you can take to avoid common issues that occur due to poor indoor air quality. Here are some of the best ways to improve your home’s air quality during winter.
Schedule an Inspection for Your Ductwork
When you have time, schedule an inspection for your home’s HVAC system to ensure that your air ducts are clean and fully functional. A trained professional can also locate any leaks that could contribute to further problems down the line.
Keep Your Ducts Clean
If they can locate a problem, then you know which direction to point to when it comes time to clean your ducts. Cleaning your ducts will prevent dust and dirt from building up in your HVAC system, which enters the air and makes you sick.
Check Your Furnace and Keep It Clean
In addition to your ducts, dirt and dust can also accumulate in your furnace and its filter. Keeping your furnace and filter clean will keep your home warm and your lungs happy.
Clean Furnace Filters Are the Key
Since furnaces are one of the most essential components of any home’s HVAC system, it’s difficult to overstate the importance of a clean furnace filter. Checking the filter regularly will keep everyone in your home healthier and save you money on your energy bill each month.
Monitor the Level of Humidity in Your Home
The optimal level of humidity that your home should stay at for the entire year is between 30 and 50 percent. Since the air becomes drier during the winter, try to use a humidifier to maintain a consistent level of moisture in the air.
Avoid Mold and Mildew
However, excessive moisture can cause mold and mildew to thrive indoors, so be sure to keep levels low enough to prevent this from happening. Mold exposure is toxic to the body and causes numerous health problems.
Overall, by following the right tips, you won’t suffer from poor indoor air quality when the cold weather outside forces you to stay indoors. Now that you know a few ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality during winter, enjoy the holidays and stay warm!
