Indoor air quality is an issue throughout the year, but it is especially important during the winter. You spend a lot more time indoors, probably don’t leave your windows open, and have your heat on practically around the clock. All that can leave the air in your home feeling a little stagnant, and a questionable HVAC system could make things even worse.
Since you can’t very well go without heat or leave your windows open all winter, you’ll need to take a few extra steps to improve the air quality in your home. Here are some tips that will help.
1. Change Your HVAC Filter
Your HVAC filter removes dust, dander, and other pollutants from the air as it moves through your home’s ducts. Naturally, it gets dirty and needs regular changing or cleaning. It’s best to swap out your air filter once a month, although some higher-quality filters can last much longer than that.
If it’s been at least a month since you changed your HVAC filter, do so before winter begins. Then remember to check it every month and change it as needed.
2. Clean Your House
Simply cleaning your house and keeping it clean will help improve your indoor air quality. This means dusting all hard surfaces, vacuuming carpeted floors, and making sure the burners on your stove are scrubbed clean. It also means keeping your home free of clutter. A cluttered house allows dust to gather in more places, some of which will be hard to reach. If your house feels cluttered because of your floor plan and your furniture, consider rearranging your common areas to make them easier to clean.
3. Use Your Stove for Its Intended Purpose Only
Never use your stove or oven for anything other than cooking food. It does add a little extra heat to a cold home, but it also wastes energy and adds pollution from burnt food particles into the air.
If your home feels cold, and you don’t want to turn up your thermostat, use a space heater instead of your stove. Avoid kerosene heaters or anything with an open flame, though; those should only be used outdoors.
4. Use Cleaning Products Sparingly
You’ll almost certainly be using surface cleaner and other solvents when you clean your home, but do so sparingly. Many of these products contain harmful ingredients that will affect your home’s air quality when you spray them on a mirror or a counter. Use only as much cleaner as you need, and store it in a safe place away from children and pets when you’re not using it. Better yet, check the labels of cleaning products before you buy them to make sure they don’t contain harmful chemicals. In a pinch, you can make a good all-purpose cleaner from distilled white vinegar, water, and essential oils that is safe to use indoors.
5. Invest in an Air Purifier
While your HVAC filter does help remove pollutants from the air in your home, an air purifier can do so much more. Smaller air purifiers are great if your living space is limited, but a whole-home air purifier that is part of your HVAC system is best if you live in a larger house.
6. Invest in a Humidifier
The air gets extremely dry in winter, so a humidifier is always a good investment. As with air purifiers, you can use smaller portable humidifiers if you live in a smaller space or only need to humidify one room. A whole-home humidifier built into your HVAC system is best if you live in a large house.
7. Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up
Your HVAC system requires regular maintenance to keep working safely and efficiently. Doing things like dusting vents and changing your HVAC filter definitely count as maintenance. In addition, you need to schedule at least one tune-up for your system every year, preferably in the fall before the main heating season begins. This service should involve tightening electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, and making sure that your heat exchanger isn’t damaged, as this can lead to a carbon monoxide leak. Your maintenance technician can also uncover minor issues that can be fixed before they turn into major repair projects.
Contact Efficiency Plumbing for Assistance
If you need to schedule an HVAC tune-up, or you’re concerned about your home’s air quality, Efficiency Plumbing will be happy to assist you. We have served Hanover, MA and the surrounding area since 2015, and we pride ourselves on keeping homes safe and comfortable throughout the year. Along with comprehensive plumbing, heating, and cooling services, we take care of zoning systems, ductwork, ductless mini-splits, and thermostats. We do all that we can to keep our prices affordable, and we are always on time when you call us for service.
For more information about our indoor air quality services or to schedule an appointment, contact Efficiency Plumbing in Hanover.
