How to Combat Bad Air Quality

It may come as a surprise, but indoor air quality can often be worse than outdoor air quality. Why? Because modern buildings are designed to be energy-efficient, which means they’re well-insulated and sealed tightly to prevent drafts and minimize energy loss. While this is great for reducing utility bills, the downside is that indoor pollutants and contaminants get trapped inside, leading to a build-up of harmful substances. 

To add to this, everyday activities such as cooking and cleaning, along with dust mites, pet dander, and other airborne particles can linger indoors. Without proper ventilation, the problem is exacerbated, as fresh air helps to dilute indoor pollutants. 

The good news is that there are solutions to help you improve indoor air quality. To further explain, in this blog, we’ll explore:

• The importance of indoor air quality
• Ways to improve indoor air quality

The Importance of Indoor Air Quality

For Your Health

Indoor air quality plays a huge role in our overall well-being and comfort. We spend a significant portion of our lives indoors – be it at home, at the office, or at school – so breathing in clean, fresh air is essential. In fact, poor indoor air quality can lead to a range of health problems, including irritated eyes, congestion, headaches, fatigue, and even more serious long-term effects on our respiratory systems.

For Your HVAC System

As far as your HVAC system is concerned, better air quality reduces the risk of clogs and blockages in the system, which can lead to decreased airflow and potential malfunctions. This means that your system can operate more efficiently and effectively, resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced wear and tear on its components.

By prioritizing and maintaining good indoor air quality, you not only promote a healthier living environment but also extend the lifespan and enhance the performance of your HVAC system.

Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

If you’re struggling with allergies or are tired of stuffy, stale air, you can relax knowing that there are numerous practical and effective solutions to help improve your indoor air quality.

Clean or Change Air Filters Often

HVAC system air filters play a crucial role in trapping and removing airborne particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. Over time, these filters become clogged and can block the flow of air, which not only hinders the system’s efficiency but also circulates contaminated air throughout your home. By regularly replacing the filter (or cleaning it, depending on your system) you can ensure that the air passing through your HVAC system is clean and free from pollutants.

Get Regular HVAC Maintenance

Over time, HVAC systems can accumulate dust, debris, and other contaminants that can compromise air quality. Regular maintenance, including cleaning and inspecting components such as coils, ducts, and vents, helps to remove these accumulated pollutants. Additionally, maintenance involves checking and adjusting airflow, calibrating thermostats, and identifying and addressing any issues that may contribute to poor air quality. By keeping your HVAC system in good working condition, you can enhance its ability to filter and circulate clean air throughout your home.

Maintain a Clean Home

The general cleanliness of your home can reduce the amount of dust, pet hair, pollen, and other contaminants that can be kicked up into your air. Regularly vacuuming, dusting, and wiping down of surfaces will help improve your air quality. When choosing your cleaning products, lean toward chemical-free options to prevent adding pollutants to the air incidentally.

Keep Your Home Well-Ventilated

It’s important to open windows and doors so that fresh air can circulate through your home. This will naturally push some of the contaminated air outside and dilute the concentration of harmful particles in the air left behind.

It may seem counterintuitive– especially during cold winters– but just a few minutes of fresh air circulation can have a dramatic improvement. Once you’ve ventilated your home, feel free to kick the heat or AC back on.

For homeowners concerned about indoor air quality and seeking an energy-efficient solution, the QuietCool Whole-Home Fan installation by Cooper Green Team is an excellent option. These systems not only combat poor air quality but also ensure comfort, peace, and savings on energy bills by promoting the circulation of fresh air. It’s a win-win for those looking to breathe easier and live greener.

Don’t Smoke Indoors

Cigarettes contain hundreds of harmful chemicals that drift into the air when smoking. If you choose to smoke, make sure to do so outside to prevent those chemicals from being trapped in your home and inhaled by your loved ones.

Invest in an Air Purifier

If you don’t already have one, installing a whole-home air purifier can have a major impact on pollutant levels in your home’s air. Unlike portable air purifiers, which only address a limited area, a whole-home air purifier is integrated into your HVAC system, allowing it to clean and purify the air throughout your entire home. These advanced systems effectively capture and remove a wide range of pollutants, including dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and even volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

To ensure proper sizing, placement, and integration with your HVAC system, it’s important to work with a trustworthy and experienced HVAC contractor. At Cooper Heating and Cooling, we train our technicians to the highest of standards, so you can relax knowing your whole-home air purifier is installed safely and correctly. Schedule your in-home estimate online today.

Do Salt Lamps Work?

Despite the studies conducted on the effects of negative ions and salt filtration, there is no conclusive evidence that salt lamps are a reliable option for purifying the air in your home. Though they are pleasant to look at, the amount of salt surface needed to make an impact on indoor air quality is much higher than the lamps being sold at department stores.

What About Indoor Plants?

House plants are nature’s purifiers. Their natural function is to produce new oxygen, so having some within your home can be helpful. A few plants are not enough to handle the job alone, but their contribution can ease the burden on other purifying solutions you decide to implement.