As we enter the last stages of winter, we are still focused on heating issues and unconcerned about spring. But, spring is on the way, and with it comes the allergens that can affect the health of you and your family. Spring is the season when we prepare our homes for the year to come, and that should include the indoor air quality (IAQ). In this article, we will offer some useful advice on how to improve your IAQ for spring.
The Importance of IAQ
We have heard a great deal over the years about the levels of air pollution outdoors. This is a major problem, but recently we have learned more about our IAQ too. According to the medical website WebMD, the IAQ in your own home could be worse than the quality of the air outdoors. Indoor pollutants can include dirt, dust, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, bacteria and more. All of these airborne pollutants can have a negative effect on your health. The people that tend to notice poor IAQ first are those with pre-existing respiratory health issues and allergies. But, over time, even healthy people will notice the effects of poor IAQ on their health. Breathing poor indoor air can lead to headaches, allergic reactions, breathing issues, and more. So, it’s important to take steps to improve your IAQ to make your indoor air fresher and healthier.
Reducing Allergen Exposure
During the spring, the level of allergens rises as more pollen, and other pollutants are released into the air. Heavy agricultural or industrial activity can exacerbate the allergens levels if they are located in or near where you live. But, there are a few things that you can do to reduce your exposure to allergens inside your home. One of the easiest methods is to close your windows at night to stop the allergens from entering your home. It’s tempting to open your windows to allow fresh air to enter, but if there are any allergy or asthma sufferers in the home, this can be counterproductive. Another source of allergen exposure can occur when people have loose or damaged ductwork. Cracks or breaks in the ductwork can allow allergens to enter, and then they are distributed throughout the home. A temporary repair with duct tape may seem like the ideal solution, but this type of tape is insufficient for this task. The only way to secure your ductwork is to contact your local licensed HVAC specialist and ask them to inspect, seal, repair, or replace them.
Humidity Balancing Issues
Many areas suffer from extreme humidity issues, but as spring arrives, most homes will notice a rise in the levels of humidity. A healthy level of humidity is 30-50%; if your humidity is higher or lower than this range band, you will notice it. A home with high or low humidity will be uncomfortable, and it can lead to a number of problems. From a health perspective, high humidity can create ideal growing conditions for mold. The presence of toxic mold spores in your home will trigger allergic reactions and adversely affect your health. A portable humidifier or dehumidifier will help to balance the humidity in a single room, but this is an inefficient solution. Although an air conditioner acts as a dehumidifier, it is not as effective as a dedicated unit. This is why many people install a whole-house dehumidifier to make their indoor air dry.
Remove Outdoor Shoes
This may seem strange, but you may be surprised at the quantity of pollutants you can bring into your home on your shoes. When we walk around outside, our shoes pick up a lot of dirt, dust, grime, pollen, and other pollutants that we don’t want in our homes. When we walk inside, these pollutants are tracked on the floor. Eventually, they will become airborne, and your HVAC system will recirculate them continuously. This will be detrimental to your health and indoor comfort levels. A simple solution is to designate an area near or outside the doors where outside shoes can be taken off. This will limit the pollutants to that area and limit the amount that enters your home.
Changing the Air Filter
Many people believe that the air filters in their HVAC systems are designed to improve their IAQ. This isn’t the case. The air filter’s primary purpose is to prevent particulates in the air from entering sensitive components where they could cause damage. But, if the air filters are clogged with pollutants, they can become backed up, and then they can enter your home. This will lower the IAQ, and the clogged air filter will affect the performance and efficiency of your HVAC system. Your HVAC equipment relies on a steady supply of air to work correctly, and if the airflow is impeded, it can overwork your system. This can lead to increased energy usage, which drives up your bills, and it can even damage your HVAC system. It’s a good idea to change the air filters every three months or more frequently if you have pets in your home.
Weekly Bed Washing
Spring is a prime time for bed and dust mites, and your bedding is where they can be found. When you frequently wash your bedding with hot water, you can keep your home free of mites. This is also a great way to keep the skin cells that you shed when sleeping under control. Any material that you can keep out of your air will improve the overall IAQ. This is a great way to protect people in your home that suffer from skin allergies too.
Replacing Kitchen Sponges
If you have humid air in your home, it’s a good idea to change your kitchen sponges frequently. If a kitchen sponge is left out for longer than a week, it will act as a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. When you use the sponge, you could be releasing those pollutants into the air and breathing them in.
If you want to install a whole-house dehumidifier, air purifier, or seal your ductwork to improve your IAQ, contact your local licensed HVAC specialist today.