Home Watch – How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

One of the most important factors within your home is the quality of air that you and your family breathe. There has been a rise in awareness about indoor air quality, and we thought it might be helpful to discuss ways to improve the air inside, rather than hope that your air purifying or ventilation system is doing the trick.

Before we jump into that, however, let’s take a look at the common causes, as this may help you address poor air quality in your home according to the Department of Labor.

• Lack of Ventilation
• Unmaintained Heating and Air
• Mechanicals
• Moisture Damage and High Humidity
• Construction and Remodeling
• Contaminated Air

Five Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

• Ventilate or Purify – The idea is you want to get air flowing throughout your home, and the easiest ways are to start opening the windows and doors. Even just a few minutes of new air circulating throughout your home can make a world of difference in chasing out unwanted contaminants. Another option is to use air purifiers, even small units, in specific rooms. These units use charcoal and HEPA filters to capture all the air contaminants that can create turmoil with your health.
• Control Humidity in Your Home – Humid and moist conditions breed mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory issues like allergies and asthma. Depending on your location, the hot summer months can bring about especially humid conditions. Reduce the amount of moisture in the air and curb the growth of irritating molds with a few well-placed dehumidifiers. There are a variety of humidifier options that will help maintain consistent humidity levels and create comfortable living conditions in your home.
• Regular Filter Changes – Most of us know that changing the air filter in our AC and other mechanicals is a must, but if you have poor air quality or airflow in your home, you may want to do this on an expedited schedule. Filters are not that expensive, and there are even services now that will deliver them to your door on a schedule. This is almost magical since filters are one of the more common items forgotten when we go to the home improvement store.
• Clothes and Bedding – Your clothes, bedding, and sheets are a haven for unwanted microbes. These little guys like to hang out in the soft textiles of your home and wreak havoc on things like your sinuses. Keeping these items clean and free of moisture is key.
• House Plants – House plants are a natural way to clean the air, and they do so by taking contaminants through carbon dioxide and purify the air when they produce oxygen through photosynthesis. The potting soil also plays a role in cleaning the air as well. The best plant-based air cleaners are Ficus, Fig, Peace Lily, Boston Fern, Bamboo, Aloe, Mums, and Spider plants.
• Eco- Friendly Products – Finally, the last way we suggest taking care of your indoor air quality is using eco-friendly cleaning and household products. With so much overwhelming research on how chemical-based products can interfere with your health, the market has responded with competitors creating safe and effective options.
• Keep Your Rugs and Carpets Clean – Rugs and carpets do more than increase the comfort of your home. They act as their own air filters, trapping dust and other particles in their many fibers. Clean your carpets and rugs weekly and they will keep working for you, improving the air quality in your home just by lying there!

Shield Home Watch provides professional home services to all of Manatee County (Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Marie Island, etc.). We are a family owned and operated local business and lived in the area for over 5 years. Our complete range of home services includes Home Watch, Housekeeping, Concierge Services, Key Holiding Services, and Rental Property Management. To learn more about Shield Home Watch or to schedule a free Whole Home Survey or service call, please call us at (941) 735-4405. If you would like to book an appointment 24 hours a day please visit our booking site.