The quality of the air you breathe while inside is more important than many people realize. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to improve indoor air quality in your home.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “‘Indoor air quality’ refers to the quality of the air in a home, school, office, or other building environment.”
The EPA also explains that Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, “where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.”
With so much time being spent inside, it’s easy to see why it’s so important to make sure the air you and your family breathe is safe and clean.
So what can you do to clean up your air? With a little basic knowledge and some preventative maintenance tips, you can take immediate steps to improve your indoor air quality today.
COMMON INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
Before we examine what you can do to improve your indoor air quality, let’s take a look at what some common indoor air pollutants are.
The EPA says common indoor pollutants of concern include carbon monoxide, particulate matter, tobacco smoke, radon, pet dander, mold, pesticides, lead, asbestos, ozone (from air cleaners), cleaning products, and more.
Some of these pollutants can be tricky to notice or go completely unknown without looking for them.
Moreover, “indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to such factors as energy-efficient building construction (when it lacks sufficient mechanical ventilation to ensure adequate air exchange) and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners,” according to the EPA.
KEEP YOUR RUGS AND CARPETS CLEAN
Rugs and carpets mean more to a home than comfort and aesthetics. They also work as their own air filters, trapping dust, dirt, and loose fibers.
Keeping your rugs and carpets regularly cleaned is a great first step in improving the air quality in your home.
CHANGE APPLIANCE FILTERS
While your air conditioner makes life during the dog days of summer a whole lot better, it spends a lot of its time filtering out pollutants from entering your home. However, if you’re not cleaning your AC filter once a month, those pollutants will make their way inside. Cleaning your AC filter also extends the life of your unit and saves you from potentially costly repairs down the road.
In addition to air conditioners, your vacuum, dryer, and kitchen vents are all sources that capture and collect air pollutants in your home and should be inspected and maintained or replaced every few months.
LET FRESH AIR IN
There’s nothing finer than a little fresh air – and the same is true in regard to your indoor air quality.
In a 2021 study, Harvard Health said, “even in the cold months, open windows from time to time to allow fresh air to move into the house.”
The additional air circulation will dilute harmful pollutants and particles from inside your home.
ADD SOME PLANTS
Adding plants to your home is another way to help produce more oxygen and clean carbon dioxide inside your home. A few good indoor plants to consider are spider plants, English ivy, peace lilies, and more.
INVEST IN AN AIR PURIFIER
Indoor allergens are a major problem for many people. Likewise, many people know the exact source of the allergy but are unwilling to make a change. For example, many people are allergic to animals but will not give up their family pets. According to Dr. Nicholas BuSaba, associate professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School, air purifiers would help.
“Placed in the most commonly used areas of the house, these devices, in particular ionic purifiers, can help capture some of the irritants that may trigger your symptoms,” he said. “You’re probably not going to be able to remove these allergens completely, but you can cut down on them, which may help the problem.”
At Max Air Comfort, we proudly offer AprilAire Air Purifiers to clean the air inside your home 24/7. AprilAire whole-house air purifiers trap common airborne pollutants like viruses, allergy and asthma triggers, and more.
STEP IT UP WITH AN AIR SCRUBBER
Air scrubbers go beyond the capabilities of competing devices. “While an air purifier is limited to airborne particles, some whole-home air scrubbers can kill germs on surfaces like doorknobs or countertops. These air scrubbers release particles that travel through your home, attract the germs off of surfaces, and pull them back through the HVAC system to be filtered out of your indoor air,” according to HVAC.com.
The AirScrubber by Aerus attaches directly to the HVAC system ductwork to reduce viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants in the ambient air and on surfaces while the HVAC fan is running.
Likewise, Aerus’ patented ActivePure “is an advanced surface and air purification technology. It has been proven to reduce up to 99.9% of many common airborne and surface contaminants.”
Ask us about adding the Aerus Air Scrubber to clean the air and surfaces in your home.
As you can see, there are many ways to improve indoor air quality in your home. To learn more about what you can do, reach out to Max Air Comfort. We are happy to provide you with a detailed consultation about strategies and products to improve your indoor air quality.
For a consultation in Berea, Strongsville, Brook Park, Olmsted Falls, Westlake, or anywhere else in Northeast Ohio, don’t trust just anyone. Trust the 5-star experts at Max Air Comfort for fair, honest pricing and service unlike any other.
