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Table of Contents

Significance of Air Quality in Your Home

Root Causes of Indoor Air Pollution

Improving Home Air Quality: Strategies and Solutions

Professional HVAC Services: The Key to Healthy Indoor Air

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9 Strategies to Improve the Indoor Air Quality of Your Home

Updated Mar. 27, 2024Lyle Weischwill5 min read
How home air quality impacts your family's health.

When considering the impact of home air quality on your family, it's about more than just comfort—it's about safeguarding your family’s health. Poor air quality can lead to various health issues and compromise your family's well-being. Understanding the vital role of air quality in your home and what you can do to improve it will make all the difference in your family's health and wellness.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Good indoor air quality is critical for preventing respiratory issues and ensuring the overall health and comfort of your family.
  • Regular maintenance, including choosing the right air filter for your HVAC system and keeping humidity levels in check, can significantly improve indoor air quality.
  • Investing in professional HVAC services ensures a comprehensive approach to maintaining clean air in your home, safeguarding your family's health and wellness.

Surprisingly, the air inside your home can be more polluted than the air outside.

Significance of Air Quality in Your Home

Understanding how home air quality impacts your family’s health is critical. Harmful particles, pollutants, and allergens found in your home can cause serious health problems, particularly affecting respiratory wellness. Indoor air pollution, which includes dust, pet dander, mold, pollen, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), has emerged as a considerable concern. Exposure to these pollutants can trigger respiratory issues like asthma and allergies, and prolonged exposure could lead to chronic conditions.

At Sears Home Services, we recognize the importance of clean air in your home. Our experts are equipped to identify potential sources of indoor air pollution and provide effective solutions for cleaning air and enhancing air quality. With services such as air purifiers, HVAC maintenance, and duct cleaning, we ensure a clean and healthy breathing environment for your family.

Surprisingly, the air inside your home can be more polluted than the air outside.

Root Causes of Indoor Air Pollution

“Mold, dust mites, insect feces and other particles in the air can trigger allergies and asthma attacks,” says Janice Nolen, assistant vice president of the American Lung Association in Washington DC.

If you want to improve indoor air quality, keep sources of pollution out of the home by ensuring you have good ventilation, both into and out of the house, Nolen explains. “A lot of mold, bacteria and other pollutants need moisture to grow. So keeping humidity levels below 50% and fixing leaks can help reduce risks,” she says.

Improving Home Air Quality: Strategies and Solutions

The question of how home air quality impacts your family’s health is directly tied to the cleanliness and purity of the air inside your home. Thankfully, there are several effective strategies for air cleaning home environments. One of these is choosing the right air filter for your HVAC system, which is pivotal for maintaining clean, breathable air. A filter with a high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating can capture more airborne particles, contributing significantly to cleaning air.

The MERV rating was designed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in the 1980s to rate how efficiently a filter captures particles of different sizes. Filters for residential use have a MERV rating that ranges from 1 (least efficient) to 16 (extremely efficient). Ratings higher than 16 are for commercial and hospital use; the fans on home furnaces aren't powerful enough to move air through them.

1. Use the Right Air Filter

Choosing the right filter depends on your home and your goals. There are four categories of MERV filters to choose from.

  • Low-Efficiency Filters (MERV 1-4): These catch larger particles like pollen and dust mites but are less effective against smaller pollutants.

  • Medium-Efficiency Filters (MERV 5-8): Suitable for homes, they trap particles as small as 3 microns, including mold.

  • High-Efficiency Filters (MERV 9-16): Ideal for families with allergies or respiratory issues, filtering out finer particles like lead dust and bacteria.

  • Ultra-Efficiency Filters (MERV >16): Used in hospitals, not suitable for typical home systems due to the need for stronger airflow.

No matter which filters you choose, replace them frequently (every three months or so) before they become clogged with dust, so they can work as they should.

2. Use of Air Purifiers

Portable air purifiers can complement your HVAC system by targeting specific pollutants, such as pet dander, smoke, and fine particulate matter. Look for air purifiers with HEPA filters, which are capable of capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns with a 99.97% efficiency.

3. Indoor Plants

Certain indoor plants have been known to naturally purify the air. Plants like spider plants, snake plants, and peace lilies can absorb toxins and produce clean oxygen, enhancing indoor air quality.

4. Regular Cleaning

Regularly vacuuming with a HEPA-filter-equipped vacuum cleaner, dusting surfaces, and washing bedding and curtains can significantly reduce the accumulation of dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens in your home.

5. Minimize Chemical Pollutants

Reducing the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in certain cleaning agents, paints, and air fresheners can lower the level of chemical pollutants in your home. Opt for natural or VOC-free products whenever possible.

6. Control Humidity

Use dehumidifiers in damp areas to keep humidity levels in check, especially during hot, humid seasons. Reducing humidity helps prevent mold growth and dust mite proliferation.

7. Ventilation

Improving airflow by opening windows when weather permits or using exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens can help remove stale air and introduce fresh air, reducing the concentration of indoor pollutants.

8. Radon Testing

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can enter homes through cracks in the foundation. Testing for radon and mitigating high levels is crucial since radon is a leading cause of lung cancer.

9. Avoid Smoking Indoors

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. Ensuring smoking is done outside can drastically improve indoor air quality.

Professional HVAC Services: The Key to Healthy Indoor Air

Considering how home air quality impacts your family’s health, it's clear that regular HVAC maintenance is essential to ensuring a healthy indoor environment. A well-maintained HVAC system, regular air duct cleaning, and upgrading to energy-efficient systems are effective ways to enhance your home's air quality. These steps help in the removal of allergens, dust, and airborne particles, leading to cleaner air and a healthier home.

Investing in professional HVAC services can make a significant difference in your family's health and wellbeing. Trust Sears Home Services to deliver effective solutions for air cleaning home environments, providing a fresh, clean, and healthy living space for your loved ones.

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