During the summer season, many people enjoy being out and about. Unfortunately, declining air quality is leading to more days where people might find themselves feeling shortness of breath, experiencing wheezing, or worse. When the air outside is problematic, people retreat back into their homes to take advantage of their HVAC system’s air filtration.
This is why it is important to make sure that your St. Louis home’s HVAC system is in good shape. Otherwise, you might still experience breathing discomfort, even in the comfort of your own bedroom or living room.
What You Need to Know About Outside Air Quality
All of this does not mean that you should spend a bulk of your time indoors. After all, summer is a great time for outdoor activities. It does mean though that you need to stay regularly informed regarding the quality of air outside. Thankfully, you can turn to the Air Quality Index (AQI) for that kind of guidance. You will often also see an outdoor air quality rating posted on local news and weather programs during the summer.
The AQI provides a score that ranges from Good to Hazardous. Usually, the specific pollutants to watch out for are ozone, particulates, and allergens such as pollen. Ozone is helpful when it is located up in the stratosphere, because it provides protection from the sun’s UV rays. However, when ozone is high at ground level, it can lead to breathing problems. Particle pollution and high pollen levels in the air can lead to breathing problems as well. So, before you head outside, do a quick check of the Air Quality Index so you will know whether it is better to stay in, or at least whether you should avoid strenuous activities outdoors.
The Importance of Indoor Air Quality
Unfortunately, it is possible for poor air from outside to make its way into your St. Louis home. The easiest way for this to happen is when doors, windows, and other vents are opened, allowing outdoors air to flow right in, without any filtration. So, one important tip for improving indoor air quality is reducing the number of times that these are opened, especially windows. If the Air Quality Index already indicates that outside air is unhealthy, keep your windows closed.
In addition, your HVAC system or air conditioner units may also pull in fresh air from outside. To keep dirty air out, they make use of filters in strategic areas. However, over time, these filters will become clogged with dust, particles, and other debris. This is why it is important to check the documentation that came with your system, so that you know how often these filters should be cleaned or replaced. Proper maintenance is key to better indoor air quality. Also, if your home is relatively more dusty than usual or if you have pets, you may need to perform this maintenance even sooner to maintain high indoor air quality.
Finally, to improve the quality of your indoor air even more, consider purchasing and installing indoor air cleaners. These can range from simple, natural alternatives, such as a good amount of potted plants inside your home, to more advanced ones, such as appliances that run air through additional HEPA filters and which make use of ultraviolet light for even more high-powered air cleaning. By using these, especially when the outdoor air quality is poor, you can help ensure comfortable and healthy breathing for the people in your home no matter what the air quality outdoors.
Get More Air Quality Advice
If you would like more information on improving indoor air quality inside your St. Louis home, please get in touch with us at Galmiche & Sons at 314-993-1110. Our staff would be happy to provide the information you need, as well as more information on St. Louis heating & air conditioning in general.
