It’s important to remember that you live inside a closed circulation system, which means your home may be polluted with toxins ranging from dust mites to radon, all of which can have serious negative effects on your health. Here are some common pollutants and ways to rid your home of them.
Dust mites, mold, and pet dander are probably the most common indoor air irritants. Even if you don’t have pets, you probably have pet dander in your home. Pet owners carry it around on their clothes and it sheds throughout the day. Our drapes, carpets, and other absorbent materials trap these irritants, leaving them to be an issue for years to come.
These irritants thrive in humidity. A simple solution is keeping your home’s humidity between 30% and 50%. A dehumidifier will help with this, as well as using air conditioning in the summer. Another tip for reducing moisture in the air is cracking a window when bathing, cooking or running the dishwasher. Keeping your floors clean is a huge help in avoiding these pollutants. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter for allergies. HEPA filters trap dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and more. Don’t forget to vacuum furniture as well! Using a microfiber mop after vacuuming will pick up the dust left behind by the vacuum.
Radon is an extremely harmful radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. It can move up from the ground and into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Any home can potentially have a radon problem, but the good news is testing for radon is easy, quick, and inexpensive. If it turns out you do have a radon problem, there are some simple methods that may fix the problem. If you need professional help, call us at Tri-City Heating and Air Conditioning in Loveland or Fort Collins. We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
To maintain the highest air quality in your home, you should regularly check and change your furnace’s air filter. Not only does it allow dust to build up and enter the air in your home, a dirty air filter will increase your utility bill. When the air filter gets clogged, airflow is reduced making the fan work harder. No one wants to be paying more than they need to be, so just choose the simple solution and get your air filters replaced regularly. Aside from dust in the air and a higher bill, keeping a dirty air filter has some more serious consequences. After a certain point of your fan straining to get air through, the motor can burn out resulting in overheating and complete system failure. So replace those air filters now and avoid more serious problems in the future!
Air quality is very important to your health. Though the consequences of low quality air seem intimidating, the air quality of your home is something we can help with. If you have any questions or concerns about air quality, heating, cooling, or anything HVAC, visit us at http://www.tricityhvac.net/services/.
