Poor indoor air quality in your Cedar Hill, Texas, home can lead to sinus problems, headaches, and worsen allergy or asthma symptoms. Pollutants like dust, dirt and pollen can also cause expensive damage to your HVAC system. These problems are especially prevalent in newer homes with lots of insulation. Don’t get lazy and forget to complete these simply chores to boost your home’s IAQ.
Clean Regularly
You should use a vacuum cleaner with strong suction and dust at least twice per week to keep pollutants from accumulating in your home. Use a damp cloth to clean your air registers, your ceiling fans, and the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Use your garden hose to rinse your outdoor HVAC unit once per week. That way, you’ll keep pollen, dirt, and grass clippings from getting into your system and lowering your indoor air quality. Avoid power washers, because they can bend your unit’s fan blades.
You should also mop occasionally to pick up any dust that vacuuming leaves behind. Place a large floor mat at all your doors to stop tracking dirt into your home. You can also ask visitors to remove their shoes before they enter.
Add Houseplants
Houseplants improve your indoor air quality by absorbing many chemical pollutants when they take in carbon dioxide. The bacteria in the potting soil can also help clean your home’s air.
Many attractive plants improve your mood, as well. Don’t put lots of plants in one room, because they can increase the humidity in the area. More moisture can lead to mold growth and make your home less comfortable in summer. If you have pets or kids, don’t choose poisonous plants.
Spider plants grow well in bright, indirect sunlight, and they send out shoots with flowers that eventually become baby spider plants. Aloe is an ideal plant for a kitchen window. It’s a succulent, and its leaves contain a gel that many people use to relieve sunburn and moisturize their skin.
Clean Without VOCs
Volatile organic compounds evaporate at room temperature, so they can spread through your home’s air easily. These chemicals include formaldehyde, acetone, toluene, benzene and xylene. They cause eye irritation, fatigue, nausea, headache, and many other health problems.
VOCs are common in cleaners, paints, varnishes, pesticides and air fresheners. You should avoid using these products when possible. When you do have to use them, store them in a shed or garage that’s away from your family’s living space. Look for paints that don’t contain volatile organic compounds, and use natural cleaners and air fresheners.
Baking soda is an inexpensive natural cleaner, and you can make furniture polish with water and lemon juice. Simmer some cinnamon sticks or cloves on your stove, make your own potpourri or use essential oils to make your home smell great.
Maintain Your HVAC System
You should change your HVAC system’s air filter once per month to keep your indoor air quality high. A dirty air filter will spread dust, dirt, mold spores and other contaminants through your home. It also forces your unit to work harder, increasing your utility bills.
You should schedule an experienced professional to inspect your HVAC system at least once per year. The best times for an inspection are in the fall and in the spring, when you’re getting ready to switch from heating to cooling or vice versa.
Freedom Heating & Air is a Trane Comfort Specialist and a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor. We can help you install, maintain, and repair a variety of HVAC and indoor air quality equipment for your home or business. Call us anytime at (214) 306-8456 for more tips on how to keep your IAQ high.
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