Homes built by today’s standards are sealed tighter than ever, designed to minimize heat loss and be more energy efficient. However, the same technology that helps prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from entering in the winter also traps pollutants and creates a dry, stuffy environment. If you’re looking for ways to improve indoor air quality this winter, look no further. Here are a number of ways to help you and your family breathe easier this winter.
Tips To Improve Indoor Air Quality
During the summer months, the air inside your home is likely to be cleaner, as the indoor air is exchanged with fresh outdoor air through open windows or doors. But in the winter, the air and everything it contains is continuously recycled through your heating system and ductwork. One of the best ways to trap these pollutants is through your HVAC filter, which you should plan to change every four to six weeks during peak heating season. Additional tips include:
- Routine HVAC maintenance. Schedule annual maintenance on your HVAC equipment each spring and fall, to prepare for the season ahead. Having your heating system cleaned, tuned, and inspected can help to improve indoor air quality, while preventing mid-season breakdowns or costly repairs.
- Control humidity. Excessively high humidity levels can lead to mold growth, and indoor humidity levels that are too low can cause discomfort to both you and your home. When levels fall below the recommended range of 30 to 50 percent humidity, occupants can suffer from dry skin, lips, and airways. Cracks may begin to appear in wood furniture and drywall, and static electricity becomes a concern for humans and electronics. Installing a humidifier can provide immediate relief, improving the quality of your indoor air and eliminating these symptoms.
- Use exhaust fans. Turn on bathroom, stovetop, and laundry room fans to eliminate excess moisture in the air and prevent mold and mildew from growing.
- Install an air purifier. A quality air purifier from McAllister can successfully filter nearly 100 percent of allergens commonly found in indoor air, such as pollen, dander, mold spores, viruses, and bacteria.
- Clean smarter, not harder. Rather than just moving dust around when you clean, trap it using microfiber or electrostatic cloths and a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- Have your ducts cleaned. Dust, dirt, and allergens can lurk in your ductwork where they are stirred up and distributed throughout your home as conditioned air passes through. Ducts should be inspected annually to ensure there are no gaps or leaks where contaminated air can enter from areas such as your basement, attic, or crawlspace.
South Jersey IAQ Solutions from McAllister
Do you suffer from allergies? Are there lurking odors in your home from smoking or pets? Have you recently remodeled or renovated? If so, you are breathing in millions of germ-carrying dust and mold particles that have been hiding in your air ducts. That’s why McAllister is the company you need to know. We’ve been helping families, like yours, breathe easier in their own homes for years.
Winter temperatures in South Jersey force residents to spend most of their free time indoors. Poor indoor air quality can contribute to a number of health concerns, particularly for those who suffer from allergies or have an underdeveloped, or compromised immune system. Improve the quality of your indoor air this winter, and throughout the year, with air quality solutions and services from McAllister.
We’ve been in the indoor comfort business since 1876. That’s almost 150 years of HVAC experience. Choose our skilled team to resolve your indoor air quality issues in South Jersey! Give us a call at 800-757-4122.
