When you feel perpetually tired or suffer from unexplained health concerns, you don’t often think about your indoor air quality, but it may be the culprit. If your New Lenox, IL, home is making you sick, there are several things you can do to make it a healthier place to live. Here are a few excellent ways you can improve your indoor air quality.
Check and Change Your HVAC Filter
Put in on your calendar to check your HVAC filter at least monthly. Although a filter may say it lasts several months, check it anyway, especially if you have pets. If the filter is covered in pet hair or other debris, it won’t remove as much particulate matter from the air. Replace it to maximize your indoor air quality and HVAC efficiency.
Switch to Hard-Surface Flooring
Consider replacing wall-to-wall carpet with laminate flooring, hardwood, ceramic tile, or another type of hard-surface flooring. The average residential carpet has 4,000 times more bacteria than your toilet, so your carpet can substantially and adversely affect your breathing. If you have area rugs, clean and thoroughly vacuum them periodically.
Consider Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is a natural air purifier. It can eliminate odors and should last for several months. It is typically used in air purifier filters. If it no longer works well, you can replace all the activated charcoal or place it in direct sunlight for a day to restore its effectiveness.
Clean and Vacuum
Most people aren’t fans of housework, but keeping a clean home is one of the best ways to improve indoor air quality. Dusting hard surfaces and vacuuming soft surfaces on a weekly basis can reduce as much as 95% of particulate air matter in your home. You can also vacuum your mattress to remove dust mites and dead skin cells.
Use Your HVAC Fan
If you don’t have an air purifier, you can run most HVAC units on the fan-only setting to circulate your air. If you decide to do this, remember you may have to change the air filter more frequently.
Indoor Plants
Plants are natural air purifiers. They absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale when we breathe, and they emit oxygen during photosynthesis, which is how they “breathe.” If you have children or pets, be sure to use plants that are not toxic to them and keep all plants out of their reach.
Salt Lamps
Some people use Himalayan pink salt lamps to cleanse the air and help with asthma and allergy management. Although their effectiveness in air purification isn’t proven, using them won’t hurt, and they have been found to improve mood and sleep. These lamps are non-toxic, so you can use them around the clock. Some people prefer to use a salt lamp rather than an air diffuser with a commercial scent because many commercial scents have substances that actually contribute to poor air quality and adversely affect breathing.
Dehumidify the Air
Humidity is conducive to mold and mildew. Using a dehumidifier can prevent the growth of these harmful substances in your home, leading to improved health outcomes and better air quality.
Ask a Professional
Although all of the above are excellent methods for improving your indoor air quality, nothing takes the place of advice from a professional. They can make suggestions and recommend procedures that you haven’t considered, and they have access to equipment that’s not available to a homeowner.
Need Better Air Quality?
If you need to improve your indoor air quality, there is no time like the present to get started. At Zark Heating & Cooling, we believe everyone in the New Lenox, IL area could benefit from improved air quality. This is especially true in today’s world, where we spend the majority of our time inside. Our air purifiers, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers can help you create an optimal indoor environment. In addition to indoor air quality solutions, we also provide a complete range of HVAC services, ductless systems, heat pumps, boilers, and smart thermostats. We have been in business since 2008, and our trusted technicians are dedicated to providing our clients with high-quality service they can depend on. If you need air purification for your home or business, call Zark Heating & Cooling for an appointment.
