As fall’s chill sets in, you spend less time outdoors and more hours inside your cozy home. Hanging out with your family indoors can be a blast, but breathing stale, dirty air can increase your risk of colds, allergy attacks, and uncomfortable respiratory symptoms.
Below, learn how to give your indoor air quality a boost with these tips from 5-Star Charleston Heating & Air.
Keep Your Home Spick-and-Span
When cool weather arrives, it’s time to do some autumn cleaning. Vacuum at least once weekly, launder bedding often, and regularly dust surfaces (including your air vents).
You should also change your air filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Depending on the type of filtration you have, you might need to replace yours every three to six months. If you have a reusable filter, clean it every two weeks.
Don’t forget about your furnace. Furnaces can fill up with dust bunnies and soot quickly, and built-up debris can block vents, causing air quality to plummet. Give your furnace a cleaning at least every couple of weeks.
Improve Your Home’s Ventilation
When it’s warm enough outside, open your windows to let fresh air in and push stale air out. Running fans can help with air exchange. If you can’t open the windows, open doors throughout the house to prevent dirty air from settling in one room.
Keep Excessive Humidity at Bay
Your humidity levels play a big part in your home’s indoor air quality. High humidity can lead to mold growth, and too much mold may trigger asthma or allergy attacks. Low humidity, on the other hand, irritates dry skin.
To keep humidity balanced, consider running a humidifier or dehumidifier.
Repaint Your Home
Did you know that certain types of paint give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can seriously hamper your air quality? If your home is old enough, the paint on your walls might even contain dangerous lead.
Fall is a wonderful time for a painting project. Choose water-based paints labeled “Low VOC” or “No VOC.” Your local hardware store can help you find the healthiest paint for your home.
Deck the Halls With Houseplants
Houseplants aren’t just pretty to look at; they can also remove toxins from the air and transform carbon dioxide into oxygen. Some of the best air-cleaning houseplants include:
- Peace lily
- Pothos
- Rubber tree
- Date palm
- Money tree
- Lemon button fern
Install an Air Purifier
If you need ultra-clean air, it’s time to break out the big guns. Our Lennox Pure Air System wipes out particulate matter, VOCs, ozone, and unpleasant odors. It also filters viruses, bacteria, and mold spores.
Enjoy Fresh, Clean Air With 5 Star Charleston Heating & Air
Want the very best indoor air quality this autumn? Reach out to 5 Star Charleston Heating & Air, the area’s premier specialist on air quality improvement. Give us a call at (843) 406-1700 to learn more about our Lennox Pure Air System or crawl space encapsulation service.