The air we breathe has a huge effect on our lives, from altering how well we sleep to triggering asthma symptoms and contributing to serious health issues. Thankfully, you can make your home a healthier place with a few simple fixes and some initiative. Follow these five steps to improve your indoor air quality.
Open Your Windows
To circulate some fresh air in your home, simply open your windows. You can also open your doors and turn on your ceiling fans to pump out stagnant air. Ventilation also helps balance humidity levels, which is important since excessively high and low humidity both have negative effects on your body.
Change Your Filters
Changing your air filters is important for your HVAC system and for everyone who lives in your home. A clogged filter won’t circulate air well, so you’ll breathe in much more dander — which is associated with a range of health problems, from dizziness to nausea and respiratory problems. This also means your HVAC system will have to work much harder to regulate the temperature.
Most people know that changing your filters every six to 12 months is recommended as a general rule of thumb. Don’t neglect the word “general” in this suggestion. If your home has several occupants, you’ll need to swap filters every three months to account for all the extra dust that gets tracked in. If you have pets, you need to change the filters every two months to ensure good air circulation and a system that isn’t blocked by pet hair. Finally, for people who have allergies, it’s suggested to change the filters about once a month.
Clean and Dust
“Dust bunnies” might be a cute name, but these are actually piles of toxin that build up in corners and under furniture. Sweep, vacuum, and mop regularly to minimize problems with dust. Also note that drapes, blinds, and ceiling fans are major sources of dander since they usually aren’t cleaned during routine chores.
Pay close attention to your bedrooms in particular. Dusty air can affect your sleep quality, which is associated with fatigue and increased risk of developing serious problems like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Get Some Plants
Houseplants are a wonderful way to improve your indoor air quality. Add these types in particular, which are known for cleansing the air of harmful toxins:
- Peace Lily
- Chrysanthemum
- Snake Plant
- English Ivy
- Flamingo Lily
Invest in an Air Purifier
An air purifier is ideal for eliminating as much dust and dander from your home as possible. You can find portable units to keep by your bed or desk, or you can invest in a whole-house purifier that attaches to your HVAC unit. Filter-based, duct-based, and standalone systems can be installed in your home’s air conditioning system.
Poor indoor air quality can be very costly for both your family members and your HVAC system. However, with these few simple steps, you can prolong the life of your air conditioning and heating unit and ensure that everyone is comfortable inside.
Nice article. I purchased houseplants to be pretty but also for this reason. Thinking about getting an air purifier, do you recommend a certain brand?
These are great tips! We try to incorporate all of them, though opening the windows in subzero temps is a big no! Maybe we’ll be avid to do that by March 🙂
We suffer from severe allergies and we have to keep the air clean inside the house or we all get nasty sinus infections.
We started adding some of the plants too’
I have been looking into different options for my house. I can start by adding some of the plants you mentioned since it’s easier to implement.
Ohhh I like the English Ivy idea!! I am so bad with plants and can barley keep an orchid alive! Thanks for the motivation ; ))