5 Proven Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

In the hot and humid climate of Sarasota, Florida, you expect your air conditioner to cool and dehumidify your home. It should also filter airborne pollutants for your family’s safety and comfort. Here are five proven ways to improve your indoor air quality:

Change Your Air Filters Regularly

To keep dust and air pollutants from entering the ducts, your HVAC system contains a disposable or washable air filter fitted either in the cold air returns around your house or right in the air handler. It’s vital to clean or replace the filters frequently to prolong the life of your unit and improve your indoor air quality. Clogged filters starve the system of air. As a result, you’ll notice reduced cooling capability and stale or stuffy air.

If you have a furry friend as part of your family, it’s best to replace your filters at least every 60 days. Pet fur and dander can build up quickly.

For homes without pets, change your filters at least every 90 days. If you suffer from allergies or other respiratory problems, look for filters with a higher MERV rating to effectively trap allergens. Make sure you’re vigilant about keeping on a filter replacement schedule.

Install an In-Line Air Cleaner

If you or someone in your household is especially sensitive to allergens or has asthma, an air cleaner may be a perfect solution. An air cleaner can trap up to 99.98 percent of the tiniest air pollutants that circulate through your home. Your nose doesn’t filter small particles like dust, dirt, lint, smoke or bacteria well. An air cleaner can do the job for you. It cleans the air in your home and doesn’t stifle the airflow from your system.

Dehumidify Your Home

Many modern thermostats show you the humidity in your home along with the temperature and programmable schedules. In a climate like ours, monitoring the humidity is a useful way to ensure you’re not encouraging biological growth and dust mites. Balanced humidity also decreases the indoor pollen count and helps the filters to work effectively. Therefore, you should aim for between 40 and 60 percent humidity in your home.

Do you find that your air conditioner isn’t dehumidifying enough? If so, having a professional install an in-line dehumidifier can help tremendously to combat the relentless summer mugginess. As a result, you won’t have to deal with stuffy air in your home.

Minimize Harmful Chemicals

You should avoid using harmful chemicals found in cleaning products and solvents. Since regular cleaning and vacuuming are important steps in keeping dust, dirt and pollen from circulating through your home, consider all-natural products. White vinegar, citrus and baking soda are useful for all kinds of household cleaning tasks, and they’re less expensive than commercial cleaning products.

Furniture, carpet and paint can emit harmful volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Some people are sensitive to the VOC off-gassing that comes from new consumer products. However, many have low-VOC emission to help you avoid irritating fumes and chemicals in your home.

Maintain Your HVAC System

If your air conditioner isn’t properly and professionally maintained, your indoor air quality may suffer from decreased filtration and dehumidification. Certified maintenance service technicians know where to look for dirt buildup and how to inspect components that may not be working at full capacity. Not all problems cause a complete loss of function. As a result, you may not know something minor is happening that could quickly turn major. Our 17-point tune-up maintenance plan brings peace of mind and can save you money and headaches in the future.

You can improve indoor air quality with some attention and care. Helping make your home safe and comfortable for your family is our highest priority, and our trained and certified professionals are available to offer the best advice and perform your regular maintenance. Call All American Heating & Cooling today at (941) 451-5228.

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