Residents of Westminster pay top dollar in winter to ensure homes are airtight and efficient in keeping them warm. Typically, you might caulk, keep your doors and windows closed and rely on the furnace for comfort. However, this also comes at the expense of your indoor air quality. With less ventilation and fresh airflow from outside, you can trap harmful pollutants in your home.
Air with impurities such as dust, mold, scented products, pet dander and other contaminants creates health problems for your family. The good news is that your home can both remain toasty and have improved air quality if you follow the tips below.
Keep Your Home Tidy
As the temperature drops in Colorado, we snuggle up indoors to keep our bodies warm, unknowingly carrying dirt into our residences. It is vital to clean all areas, especially the dark corners and spots, to avoid recirculating particulates in the home.
The floor, carpets and mats can harbor dust mites, pathogens and pet dander, all of which compromise the indoor air quality. Vacuuming and mopping is an easy solution to rid your home of these pollutants.
Use Natural Products
Even in winter, you want your home and body to smell good. However, you should avoid spray deodorants, chemical air fresheners and scented candles. These products have a high concentration of chemicals that linger in your home regardless of the season. Opt instead for oil diffusers that have natural scents.
Ensure that you use eco-friendly products to clean grease, drains and surfaces and to kill germs. You may also use vinegar and baking soda. Other harsh cleaning products may pose health issues to people with weakened immune systems.
Ventilate Your Home
Many people in Denver easily get sick during winter, mainly because of breathing stale air. Your methods of cooking, heating and cleaning also affect the quality of air in the home. It would help if you opened up your windows during daylight for a short period to allow fresh air inside.
Fresh air helps to banish odors from musty bathrooms, trash and other sources. Otherwise, these odors are trapped due to the sealing of the space. By doing this, you will also clear out pollutants and safeguard the health of your home’s occupants.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Your heating system can be a significant source of poor air quality in the home. For this reason, it is critical to schedule maintenance service with us at True Heating & Cooling to ensure quality air circulation throughout the winter.
HVAC professionals from True Heating & Cooling perform tests to determine the cleanliness of the air in the entire home. These tests allow our experts to recommend the best course of action in resolving the issues at hand.
Our technicians can also clean the ductwork to remove dust particles, debris buildup and other trapped pollutants. During routine maintenance, they change clogged air filters to trap bacteria, mold and dust from circulating to living areas.
Regular HVAC maintenance helps to improve your air quality, reduce the risk of system failure and forestall issues before they escalate. In addition, your system will be more efficient, last longer and consume less energy.
Consider Humidity Levels
The ideal humidity level should be between 30% and 50%. However, in this area, the relative humidity of indoor air is drastically reduced in winter, causing the air to be dry. Dry air has many adverse effects on the body. It can cause skin irritation and itchy eyes, and it can lead to the faster spread of viruses and bacteria. Dry air also damages furniture, wood floors and musical instruments.
Installation of a whole-home humidifier allows you to improve the humidity levels in your home. However, it is vital to maintain the humidity at an acceptable level since too much may cause condensation. The presence of moisture in a room leads to the growth of mold and mildew.
Bring in Houseplants
Houseplants can play a significant role in improving the air quality of your home. Plants help to absorb pathogens and volatile organic compounds emitted by home furniture. Moreover, plants help to replenish oxygen levels and absorb carbon dioxide. As a result, breathing becomes more manageable and sleep more comfortable.
Houseplants can play a significant role in improving the humidity level in your home as well. The leaves emit moisture into their surroundings through transpiration. Science estimates that 97% of moisture consumed by plants is released into the atmosphere through transpiration.
There is a tight connection between HVAC systems and indoor air quality. This is why True Heating & Cooling offers a plethora of heating and cooling services throughout Westminster and the Greater Denver area, including installations, repairs and maintenance. If you require any of our services or you’re interested in more tips to keep this winter bearable, give us a call today.