The quality of the air you breathe inside your home has a direct effect on your health. If the air you breathe in is full of allergens such as dust, pollen, or pet dander, you will notice an increase in allergies and be susceptible to airborne diseases if you are not careful. Not to mention that dust that gathers in one place is the perfect breeding ground for insects which you certainly do not want to have in your home. Luckily there are some steps that you can take to ensure that you and your loved ones are breathing air free of particles that could affect your health.
1. Regularly Clean Filters
The very first thing you need to do is check the filters on your AC unit. If you have not cleaned them in a while, then they’re going to be quite dirty. Dirty AC filters affect the air quality of your home. Cleaning them is a simple matter that will make a big difference in the quality of the air you are breathing. You can easily detach the filter from the unit, run it underwater to clear away all of the nasty particles that it collects over time, and then leave the filters to dry before reinserting them. This is a process that you need to make a habit of, especially if you or someone living with you suffers from allergies.
2. Install a Cooking Vent
When using a stove, you are producing a considerable amount of carbon into the air. This is even more likely to happen if you are using a gas stove-top. To ensure you do not get dizzy from the fumes, you can install a vent above your stove. There are different types of cooking vents out there. As explained by the folks at topairsystems.com, cooking is often likened to scientific experiments, and just like in a lab, you need proper ventilation to ensure that you are not affected by the air. Scientific labs need ductless air fumigation systems to keep them ventilated. Similarly, there are fumigation options for your home as well. You can also find cooking vents that have ducts leading to the outside if you would prefer such a system.
3. Vacuum Carpets and Rugs
Regularly vacuuming your carpets and rugs is essential to decrease the amount of pet dander, dust, and other allergens from getting into the air. Basically, rugs and carpets collect a lot of these particles daily, and if you do not consistently keep them clean using a vacuum cleaner, these particles are bound to end up in the air that you breathe. Not to mention that neglecting such a step can cause dust mites to appear. After vacuuming, you need to make sure to clean the dirt from your vacuum outside to ensure that it does not end up inside your home again.
4. Ventilate Your Home
Having a well-ventilated home does not mean you need to be spending thousands of dollars. You can simply avoid having stagnant air inside your home by letting in fresh air from outside. While fresh air might have pollen, it is still better than being cooped up inside without any air circulation. You can ensure an air current by opening a couple of windows around your home to let the air in and out. If you have a budget that allows for an HVAC system, then it is a good idea to invest in one.
5. Maintain Air Ducts
If you already have an HVAC system in place, then you need to get a professional to check the air ducts on a regular basis. This will ensure that your air ducts do not have dust, or even mold in them. Both mold and dust can lead to serious respiratory problems if you are exposed to them for a considerable amount of time. Even if you do not have a history of allergies or other respiratory issues, breathing in air that has mold particles is bad for your health in the long run.
6. Prohibit Smoking Inside
If you or someone close to you smokes, then you might want to start doing so outside rather than inside your home. Smoking is very harmful. If someone is smoking inside, the air quality is going to be quite polluted. Even if you are not the one smoking, you will be secondhand smoking which is still harmful. It is easier to keep your air clean if you prohibit any kind of smoking inside your home. This will ensure you are not exposed to smoke, and you will also be protecting your furniture from smelling like an ashtray.
By following these steps consistently, the air inside your home is always going to be clean. If you have a pet or if you get spring allergies because of the pollen in the air, these six simple tasks can be a life-changer. There are different products in the market that can purify indoor air for you, but if these are things that you cannot afford, you can still ensure good quality of air inside your home by following the steps suggested here.