10 Fast Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Are you looking for effective ways to improve indoor air quality in your home?

Regarding your home or business’s indoor air quality (IAQ), it is vital to recognize that most people spend most of their time indoors. In fact, 90% of the day, humans are inside, and while we might acknowledge air pollutants outside, we always seem to forget the ones inside.

According to the EPA, one of the best ways to improve IAQ is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. That is why today, we (Top Shelf Heating & Cooling of Meridian, ID) share with you practical ways to improve your indoor air quality!

10 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Here are ten effective ways that we have helped customers in and around Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the Treasure Valley with Indoor Air Quality and ways you can do it yourself! First, keep in mind that the goal of improving your home’s air quality is to address:

• Pollen
• Germs
• Dust mites
• Airborn particles
• Pet dander

Addressing these can help not just with your air quality but also positively impact those with asthma, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and other health concerns caused by our air. The positive health effects of cleaner air are worth it.

>> Learn more about Top Shelf Heating’s IAQ services here.

1. Use Natural Ventilation

How often do we consider the invisible air pollutants lurking within our homes?

Natural ventilation is a simple strategy to combat indoor air pollution, significantly improving indoor air quality. Opening windows and doors to invite fresh air dilutes the concentration of indoor air pollutants and introduces a refreshing change to the stagnant environment.

Here’s why opening your windows is more than just a breath of fresh air:

• Fresh breezes reduce harmful pollutants, ensuring a healthier living space.
• Cross-ventilation helps to disperse and eliminate airborne contaminants, enhancing air quality.
• The flow of outdoor air into indoor spaces can decrease the concentration of indoor air pollutants, promoting a cleaner environment.

2. Invest In Air Purifiers

Many believe that air purifiers are no match for the capabilities of modern air conditioning systems in improving indoor air; however, this myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Air purifiers excel in refining overall air quality by trapping airborne particles that air conditioning units might recirculate. These devices are pivotal for improving indoor air, offering a sanctuary of fresh air in their homes.

Here’s how air purifiers help with your indoor air:

• Enhances overall air quality by removing airborne particles missed by air conditioning.
• Specifically designed to improve indoor air, cleaners work efficiently to ensure a supply of fresh air.
• Targets and eliminates pollutants, significantly contributing to a cleaner indoor atmosphere.

The Trane CleanEffects Whole Home Air Cleaner for example effectlvey reduces dust, pollen, pet dander, and other pollutants including some bacteria.

3. Adopt Houseplants for Purification

Contrary to popular belief, the ability of indoor plants to improve indoor air quality goes beyond mere aesthetics. These natural air purifiers harness their biological processes to enhance air quality, making them an indispensable ally in improving air quality within our homes. As nature’s air purifiers, indoor plants absorb pollutants and emit fresh oxygen, offering a simple yet effective method to purify indoor environments.

See how adding greenery indoors does more than decorate—it detoxifies:

• Spider Plant: Known for removing formaldehyde and xylene, it’s a hardy choice for novices.
• Peace Lily: Excelling in the removal of ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, it thrives in shady areas.
• Snake Plant: Highly efficient in filtering out formaldehyde, it converts CO2 to oxygen at night, unlike most plants.

4. Prioritize Regular Carpet & Rug Cleaning

Do you know that regular carpet and rug cleaning mitigates indoor air pollution?

Accumulated dirt and dust in carpets pose a significant health risk and contribute to poor air quality. Regular cleaning ensures these pollutants are removed, indirectly benefiting the efficiency of the HVAC system and promoting clean air circulation throughout the living space.

Here are the undeniable advantages of regular carpet and rug cleaning:

• Eliminates trapped pollutants, reducing health risks associated with poor air quality.
• Enhances HVAC system efficiency by reducing airborne dust particles.
• Contributes to overall clean air, creating a healthier indoor environment.

5. Maintain Optimal Humidity Levels

Controlling humidity is pivotal in maintaining optimal indoor air quality. Excessive moisture can turn your home into a breeding ground for mold and dust mites, contributing to air pollution. Proper humidity levels ensure air ducts and air filters function efficiently, reducing the risk of pollutants circulating through your living space. By regulating moisture, you safeguard your home against the hidden dangers of air pollution.

Keep your home fresh and comfortable by controlling humidity levels with these simple tips:

• Maintains the efficiency of air ducts and air filters by preventing mold growth.
• Reduces the risk of airborne pollutants, enhancing indoor air quality.
• Ideal humidity levels range from 30-50% under normal circumstances, balancing comfort with health.
• Consider installing a humidifier such as the Aprilaire Humidifier in your home.

6. Avoid Smoking Indoors

“There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke,” a stark warning from the CDC, underscores the critical need to avoid smoking indoors.

Indoor smoking not only compromises indoor air quality but also burdens air filters, struggling to clean the air of the harmful chemicals released. Comparatively, outdoor air pollution is less concentrated than the pollutants from indoor smoking, affecting outdoor air quality less directly.

Protect your loved ones and indoor air quality by understanding the impact of avoiding indoor smoking:

• It causes respiratory infections and exacerbates asthma conditions.
• Increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• It can lead to lung cancer even in non-smoking individuals.

7. Limit VOCs Emission

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as having high vapor pressure and low water solubility, which are common in many household products, from air fresheners to natural gas. Limiting VOCs is crucial as they pose significant health hazards, including the release of carbon monoxide and mold spores into the air. Employing air cleaners can significantly reduce these pollutants, ensuring a healthier indoor environment.

Follow these simple steps to reduce VOCs and make your home’s air safer and healthier:

• Avoid synthetic air fresheners that release harmful chemicals into your home environment.
• Steer clear of certain types of pressed wood furniture, which can off-gas formaldehyde.
• Choose paints and cleaning products labeled low-VOC or VOC-free to minimize indoor air pollution.

8. Regular HVAC Maintenance

Simply running your HVAC does not guarantee improved indoor air quality;, without regular maintenance, it can do the opposite. Ensuring your HVAC system is routinely serviced is essential for maintaining and actively improving indoor air quality. Filters should be changed, and systems should be inspected at least every six months to prevent dust, allergens, and other pollutants from circulating throughout your home.

Ensure your HVAC system promotes, not hinders, your indoor air quality with these maintenance tips:

• Inspections can identify issues that may compromise air quality, ensuring a healthier indoor environment.
• Changing HEPA filters every 6-12 months while carbon pre-filters every 3-6 months is recommended for optimal performance and indoor air quality enhancement.
• Regular maintenance of your AC units and home heating systems also helps keep them in working order, reducing strain on your HVAC.

9. Use Natural Cleaning Products

Bamboo Charcoal is not just a natural air purifier but also a testament to the power of using natural products to improve indoor air quality. Incorporating natural cleaning products into your routine can significantly reduce the chemical pollutants in your home, enhancing the efficiency of your air filter and air purifier without introducing harmful substances.

Here are the transformative power of natural cleaning products for a purer, healthier living space:

• White vinegar is a versatile cleaner that effectively disinfects and deodorizes surfaces.
• Baking soda can be used to clean and neutralize odors naturally.
• Essential oils, like lemon or tea tree, offer antimicrobial properties and a fresh scent without using synthetic fragrances.

10. Optimize Cooking Ventilation

Cooking might feed the soul, but without proper ventilation, it can starve your home of clean air. Utilizing exhaust fans or range hoods when cooking is a simple yet effective method to improve indoor air quality, swiftly removing airborne contaminants generated from cooking processes. This practice not only preserves the freshness of your indoor air but also prevents lingering odors and grease particles from settling.

Maximize the quality of your indoor air with optimized cooking ventilation practices:

• Utilizing exhaust fans reduces humidity and airborne grease, protecting air quality.
• Range hoods capture cooking particles, preventing them from settling in your home.

The Final Word on IAQ:

Maintaining the spaces we occupy seems always to be a never-ending list of maintenance. Worrying about the inside of your home and the exterior doesn’t have to be a burden. We understand that thinking about improving indoor air might be one of the lower items on your list.

This is why Top Shelf Heating & Cooling will take the strain off your shoulders. We can help give you an air assessment and our professional recommendations for your indoor space so you don’t have to worry any longer about the air you and your loved ones are breathing!