Something is off about the air you breathe in your St. Louis home – but how should you go about improving indoor air quality?
It is not always easy for the ordinary homeowner to identify what is really causing air quality issues or how to go about improving indoor air quality. Additionally, when the issue comes from outside the home, it is not always possible to eliminate the source of the indoor air quality issues. However, you can do things like install air cleaners and take a few simple steps to clean and improve the air you breathe inside your home.
For more help with improving air quality in your St. Louis home, contact our heating & air conditioning experts today!
Follow These Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality
The most common cause of indoor air quality issues are often related to missing some important regular HVAC maintenance tips. You do not have to be an expert to implement these indoor air quality suggestions; you just need to add them to your regular list of home care tasks.
1. Replace your air filters regularly
Refer to your HVAC system manual to find out where your air filter is and how to replace it. Examine it at least once a month to see if it looks like the filter is accumulating dirt, dust, mold, or fungus. You may be surprised to learn that the best practice to improve your indoor air quality is to replace your filter somewhere between monthly and once every three months. (Your HVAC manual or an HVAC technician can help you determine the best amount of time.)
2. Use your exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen
The exhaust fans installed in your bathroom and kitchen are designed to manage your air quality indoors, not just to make bad smells go away. Their real purpose is to keep the moisture level of your home at the right level to prevent more serious air quality issues from developing. Exhaust fans can keep mold from growing in your ducts, an issue which can cause much more serious indoor air quality issues.
3. Wash your sheets once a week
The dust mites that accumulate on dirty bedding are another source of many common indoor air quality issues. Dust mites are tiny insects that reproduce to incredible numbers in dirty bedsheets. You can prevent them from building up by washing your sheets every week. Your mother probably nagged you to do this, but now you know that it also improves your indoor air quality.
4. Consider using a dehumidifier to inhibit mildew and mold growth
Dehumidifiers cut down on the air moisture that organisms such as mildew and mold need to grow their colonies. Prevent the worst indoor air quality issues by using a dehumidifier and clean surfaces where you see them growing early on.
5. Schedule regular HVAC maintenance visits from St. Louis professionals
In addition to the tips above, there are many indoor air quality issues that only a professional can spot earlier than a typical homeowner. With regular maintenance checkups, you can ensure your system is working at peak efficiency and eliminate potential indoor air quality problems in your home. You can cut down on the repairs and other maintenance tasks that they might have to perform to maintain your indoor air quality by following the other suggestions in this article.
For more information on how to keep your indoor air fresh and clean or to schedule an appointment with our indoor air quality experts, contact the heating & air conditioning professionals at Galmiche & Sons – your St. Louis HVAC team.
