Your home is your sanctuary. It’s where you go to unwind at the end of a long day. It should also serve as your escape from outdoor air humidity and pollutants like plant pollen, car exhaust fumes, and a long list of particulate matter proven to contribute to illness and disease. Those tiny particles aren’t visible to the human eye, but they can make their way into your lungs with prolonged or repeated exposure.

Unfortunately, that particulate matter can also make its way into your home by clinging to your pet’s fur or your shoes, clothing, skin, and hair. Outdoor pollutants also leak in through drafty doors and windows or small cracks or holes in your HVAC ducts.

Then you have indoor air pollutants that come from within. For instance, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air from air fresheners, cleaning products, paint, and many flooring options like carpeting or vinyl. Even your furniture can release chemicals that pollute your indoor air and impact your health over time.

Shielding your home from these pollutants can make a significant difference in the number of allergens and harmful chemicals that you inhale daily. Let’s discuss some of the best ways to improve the quality of indoor air in your home. It’s not as difficult or time-consuming as you may think.

Routine Filter Changes or Cleanings

If you often forget to change your HVAC filter, it’s time to put it on the calendar along with every other filter in your home. Your vacuum cleaner may have an air filter as well as your dryer. Even room air purifiers likely have filters that you need to clean or change regularly.

Filters are designed to remove small particles of dust and other contaminants from the air. When you don’t change them often enough, they allow contaminants to remain in your air while reducing the efficiency and longevity of your appliances.

Most HVAC filters are designed for monthly changes. You can upgrade to media filters designed to remove more pollutants from your indoor air.

Air Duct Cleanings

If it’s been more than three or four years since you had your air ducts professionally cleaned, now is the time to get a cleaning scheduled. As air circulates through the ducts to reach the vents in your home, a variety of contaminants collect inside the ducts. That may include dust, pollen, bacteria, and even mold.

If you guessed that those contaminants could make their way into your home from the ducts, you’re correct. Scheduling a professional duct cleaning at least every four years is one of the most effective ways to improve the purity of the air you breathe inside your home.

Whole-Home Air Purification Systems

Air purifiers are your best defense against indoor air pollution. They run quietly in the background and work around the clock to remove small particles of debris from the air you breathe. Small purifiers that cover one room or a small zone of your home are a great starting point, but whole-home air purification systems are the most effective option.

Systems designed to cover your whole home are installed directly into your existing HVAC system. They’re quieter than room air purifiers and require less maintenance.

Contact us today to discuss air purification systems and other ways to keep your home free of air pollution year-round.