In the post COVID 19 pandemic era, many have become accustomed to working from home, or homeschooling our children. This means that we are spending more time inside our homes than ever. While this is great for family bonding, it does mean that we are more vulnerable to issues related to our indoor air quality. Fortunately, there are some simple ways that you can improve your home’s indoor air quality and ensure that all members of your family can breathe the cleanest air possible.

Ventilate Your Home:

While it is tempting to seal up your home to ensure that you get the best from your heating and cooling system, it is still important to ventilate your home periodically. Proper ventilation can provide an easy way to immediately improve your indoor air quality and reduce the pollutants inside your home. Weather permitting, you should open your doors and windows or run the bathroom and kitchen fans to carry any fumes or odors outside your home.

As the air conditioning season approaches, run your AC with your vent controls open. This will ensure that there is some ventilation without allowing lots of your treated air to escape as it might if you opened a window.

You should also ensure that your home is properly ventilated if you use any products which can potentially release VOCs. VOCs or volatile organic compounds can be found in cleaning supplies, paint, air fresheners, pesticides and many other common household products.

You could also consider installing an Energy Recovery Ventilator or ERV into your HVAC system. This device automatically and efficiently ventilates your home without any loss of warm air in winter or cooled air in summer.

Reduce Allergens and Asthma Triggers:

If you or any members of your family suffer from allergies or asthma, it only requires exposure to one trigger to cause breathing difficulties. While of course, it is important to consult your doctor to identify potential triggers and formulate a treatment plan, there are some things you can do to reduce allergens and asthma triggers inside your home. These include:

  • Don’t smoke inside
  • Regularly clean and dust
  • Regularly wash linens and blankets using hot water
  • Clean up after meals and seal any cracks to avoid pests
  • Use allergen proof covers on mattresses and pillows.

Additionally, you may want to consider upgrading your HVAC filters. HVAC filters are typically rated with their MERV or minimum efficiency reporting value. The higher the number, the better the filter rating. High filtration ratings will be more effective at removing pollen and particles from your indoor air.

HEPA filters are a popular choice for allergy sufferers and these have a rating of 17 to 20. Just bear in mind that the highest rated HEPA filters are typically reserved for medical use, as they may excessively reduce the airflow in your HVAC system, compromising performance.

Adjust the Moisture and Humidity Levels:

High humidity levels can create excessive moisture inside your home, increasing the chances that mold will develop. Fortunately, you can prevent mold growth by drying out any areas of your home with water damage within one or two days.

You can also purchase a humidity or moisture gauge to check the humidity levels in your home. The ideal level is 30% to 50%.

To reduce the humidity levels, if it is not humid outdoors, you can simply crack a window. You can also use a dehumidifier or ensure that your AC system is properly sized to keep the moisture levels at the optimum level during summer.

To increase the humidity levels, you can use a vaporizer or humidifier inside your home. If low humidity is a regular problem inside your home, it may be beneficial to install a whole home humidifier. This will ensure optimum humidity levels even during the colder winter months.

Use a UV Light Air Purifier:

The modern home can be airtight, which can be great for heating and cooling efficiency, but it can trap potentially harmful bacteria and viruses inside your home. Fortunately, you can rectify this by using a UV light air purifier. UV light devices can be installed within your HVAC ductwork. This will reduce the airborne particles and eliminate viruses, bacteria and even contaminants such as mold.

UV is a highly efficient purification method, eliminating 99% of airborne contaminants. With correct placement, the air can be treated before it is distributed throughout the ductwork and your home.

Check for Pollutants:

Unfortunately, there are many pollutants that can be found in common household products. Two common indoor pollutants are nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are linked to combustible fuels from stoves, furnaces and heaters. These pollutants can cause severe symptoms, but you can reduce exposure with outside ventilation and proper maintenance of combustible fuel appliances. It is also recommended to install a CO detector to alert you to any leaks.

There can also be VOCs or volatile organic chemicals in and around your home. VOCs can have a massive impact on your indoor air quality and they are found in paints, varnishes, cleaning products, fuels and more. If you are using any product containing VOCs, it is crucial that you work in a well ventilated area and ensure all containers are properly sealed and stored.

Perform Regular HVAC Maintenance:

Finally, be sure to have your HVAC system regularly serviced and maintained. HVAC equipment can disperse contaminants around your home, particularly if they are not operating correctly. It is important to replace HVAC filters regularly and have your system checked by a professional HVAC specialist at least once a year. This will not only ensure that your system is operating safely and efficiently, but it can contribute to having higher quality indoor air.

If you have any concerns about how your HVAC system is impacting your indoor air quality, be sure to speak to your local HVAC professional. An experienced technician can evaluate your system to identify any potential issues and provide a resolution to keep your equipment functioning at optimum efficiency, performance and safety.