The Best List for Improving Indoor Air Quality Not Found on Buzzfeed

Improving indoor air quality is as simple as keeping up on maintenance and small tips and tricks for inside your home. Generally the things that make bad air quality indoors are all small in and of themselves, but when you start adding all the small things together, that’s when it becomes a problem.

Here is a list of the things you can do to improve the indoor air quality in your home.

• Have your ductwork inspected, cleaned and sealed. As ductwork funnels air through the house, it can build up dust. If ductwork has any damage or leaks, it can also let in unfiltered air laden with pollen, or even have vermin such as insects or rodents set up residence.
• Change the air filters on your HVAC system regularly.
• Use exhaust filters when cooking, taking showers, or other activities that create moisture in the home. This keeps humidity down inside the home so mold and mildew cannot develop. If you see mold or mildew clean it out right away so it can cannot spread.
• If you consistently have a mold or mildew problem consider getting a whole-house dehumidifier.
• If you see a cockroach, check for infestations, and seal any cracks that the insects may have been using to get in.
• Weatherize doors and windows so unfiltered outside air is not leaking in.
• Consider installing UV lighting to destroy microorganisms and bacteria.
• If you have allergy problems due to pet dander, mold, or dust consider installing a whole house HEPA filtration system.
• Carpets and other soft surfaces in the home can harbor dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens. Consider changing to hardwood floors, and use a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
• If you have asthma, don’t use air ionizers for air purification as the ozone can trigger asthma.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

Photo Credit: Broo_am (Andy B) via Compfight cc