6 Easy Ways to Maintain Good Air Quality in Your Home

Air Conditioning

Poor air quality in the home is indicated by: itchy eyes, fatigue, shortness of breath, allergic reactions, sinus congestion, coughing and nausea.  Being sick and not being able to link it to anything specific, like a flu bug going around, is an indicator that you might have poor air quality in your home.  Unless you are an elementary school teacher, then it’s probably that.  Thankfully maintaining good air quality is very easy.  There are plenty of things you can do like checking your air conditioning system and dusting frequently that will contribute to having good air quality in your home.  Here are a few of the best ways to do so.

Change Air Filters

First, check your air filters.  If they look grey and like they are caked in dirt, dirt and debris, it is time to change them.  How often you should change them depends on what kind of air filter you have, if you have pets in the house, how many people live with you and the area you live in.  Some people change air filters once every season, so every 4 months, while others change them every month.  Once you figure out how quickly your air filters get dirty it should become an easy routine for you.

Clean Air Ducts

The National Air Duct association recommends you have your air ducts professionally cleaned every 2 – 5 years depending on your living conditions.  Much like changing your air filters the conditions that mean you will have to clean more frequently include: owning pets, living with more people and the area you live in.

Maintain an Optimal Humidity Level

Mold, dust and mites like moisture so if you keep your humidity level down, say, around 30%-50% it will help keep them away from your home.  Using a dehumidifier can help if you live in an area with very humid summers.  Air conditioning will help this as well since it reduces humidity and the pollen count in the home as well.

Clean Floors

Cleaning surfaces greatly improves air quality.  Homes collect pollutions from outside and it ends up on the floor!  Using a vacuum cleaner is all it takes to get rid of the harmful chemicals that build up and end up in the dust on your floor.  Putting doormats in front of all the doors to your house will also make sure when people enter your home they don’t track debris and chemicals all over your floor.

Quit Smoking

While of course smoking is bad for you, smoking inside is particularly bad because it fills the air with those 4,000 chemicals everyone tells you are bad for you.  They stay in the house as second hand smoke.  So at the very least step outside to smoke.

Get Your Home Tested

Finally, if you aren’t sure about the air quality in your home, get it tested.  It’s very easy and there are many services available that will test it and give you more suggestions on how to improve it.

No need to suffer with vague tiredness and allergy like symptoms, start with the basics, make sure the air you breathe is as clean as possible!