Winter is fast approaching, and as we head into darker days and cooler temperatures, there’s one thing that not many give attention to. An increased time indoors leads to greater reliance on indoor air supplies, which may not be the best to breathe in.
Your home tends to be more tightly sealed in in the winter; we have less access to fresh air, and your home can quickly become saturated with dirt, dust, debris, and allergens that can cause long-term health consequences such as:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Respiratory issues
- Allergies and asthma
- Chronic sinus issues
- Eye and skin irritation
Take proactive control of your health and your home this winter to prevent these uncomfortable symptoms from taking hold. The following action steps are easy to implement and will allow you to improve the quality of your indoor air while providing your family with a safe place to hang and ride out those winter storms.
Keep Your Home Clean
A clean house is healthy; pet dander, dust, and debris are regularly swept away as you wash surfaces and vacuum floors. Using non-toxic cleaning products is another way to ensure that you reduce the number of toxins floating around your home. Commit to a regular cleaning schedule and enjoy the benefits beyond your home’s appearance.
Clean Your Ductwork
Ductwork runs throughout your home, bringing circulated, temperature-controlled air to every room in your house. Over time, these ducts can become clogged and dirty with dust, debris, and even mold and mildew. If left unchecked, all these particulates will continue circulating throughout your house, causing you to breathe in saturated air. Establish a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule on your ductwork, and look forward to breathing cleaner air all winter long.
Check and Replace Your Air Filter
A well-functioning HVAC system plays a very critical role in helping to keep your indoor air quality clean and fresh. One component that needs careful maintenance and inspection is your air filter.
Air filters have the important job of trapping debris and other pollutants, keeping them from circulating through your home’s HVAC system. Dirty air filters can cause more debris to flow through rooms in your home, so changing them frequently is a reliable measure of protection for you and your family against the health consequences of dirty air.
Upgrade Filters If Possible
If your furnace can use a filter with a higher MERV rating, then, by all means, switch it out. Your system can efficiently use a range of acceptable filtration; check your existing filter and upgrade it if possible to trap even more unsavory particles and keep them out of circulation and away from you.
Increase Ventilation and Circulation
Do what you can to bring clean air into the circulation. Open doors and windows quickly, letting fresh air into your home. Install and use ceiling fans to keep air from getting stagnant in corners and unused rooms. Monitor moisture levels to ensure that you don’t see a buildup of mold and mildew that can wreak havoc on your home and your health.
Use an Air Purifier
One of the best ways to freshen up indoor air is to install and use an air purifier. A purifier removes odors and takes polluted air in, transforming it into the clean, fresh air that can be circulated through your home.
Service and Maintain Your HVAC System
A dirty, inefficient HVAC system will not only release debris into your air supply, but it could begin emitting harmful gases such as carbon monoxide if it is not serviced and maintained correctly. Much like your ductwork, your central unit will have to be serviced and maintained to provide you with the best quality performance that yields higher quality indoor air.
Need Tips On Improving HVAC Function and Indoor Air Health? We Can Help!
Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. has years of experience and quality services that improve the quality of life for their customers. Offering several services, including:
- Residential and commercial HVAC service
- Installation and repair
- Furnace and air conditioner sales
- Regular maintenance
- Indoor air quality tests
We provide you and your family peace of mind that your HVAC system is running as it should, providing you with clean, well-regulated air that you can rely on during those cold winter months. Call us today to schedule service and inspection of your unit, and look forward to a toasty warm winter!
