The air in your Modesto house is probably not as clean as it seems. Everyone has had the experience of sunlight shining through a window and exposing the dust particles in the air. Some pollutants are even less obvious. Volatile organic chemicals, or VOCs, are produced by cleaning products, cooking oils and beauty products. They are also released into the air as the plastics in your house slowly degrade. In this article, we discuss seven steps you can take to keep air pollutants from taking over your residence.
1. Keep It Outside
Many irritants such as dust, pollen, and dirt are brought inside as people enter your home. Encourage visitors to take off their shoes and leave them in the entryway. Have a mat to keep them on, and ask that your family members and guests abide by the same rule.
2. Clean Often
It is also helpful to do the regular chores of sweeping and vacuuming to pick up these substances before they spread around. You might invest in a vacuuming robot that will do the job more frequently.
Dusting regularly helps as well, as does sweeping wooden floors. Even keeping your pets clean will help by reducing dander and fur circulating throughout your residence.
3. Ventilate Your Home
A big part of getting VOCs out of your home is making certain that there is an exchange of indoor and outdoor air. Getting the stale air out will also lower unwanted chemical levels. Make sure to use beauty and cleaning products in ventilated areas. Run an exhaust fan when you are cooking with oil to get microdroplets out of the air supply.
While the simple act of opening a window can help ventilate your home, you may want to consider adding a ventilation system to your home comfort systems. This will make sure your home is well ventilated throughout the year.
4. Have Your Ducts Cleaned
Your ductwork carries air from the HVAC system to different rooms of your home. Over time, these tunnels may become clogged with dirt, dust, and other materials, especially if the filter isn’t changed on a regular basis. Hiring a professional to clean the ducts improves air quality by removing excess pollutants.
5. Keep an Eye on Humidity
Too much humidity creates a breeding ground for mold and pathogens that are harmful to human health and breathing. On the flip side, dry conditions lead to itchy skin and throat, dry eyes, and breathing problems. Consider adding a humidifier or dehumidifier to your property, depending on the climate and your current home conditions.
6. Change Filters Regularly
The filter in your HVAC system has a few functions, including keeping the system safe. It also functions as a way to clean the air in your house. Dust, pet hair, and other particles are caught in this filter. There they stay, instead of circulating throughout your home or getting swept up into your furnace.
In order to ensure your filter is cleaning the air as well as it possibly can, it’s important to change it regularly. Every other month is sufficient in periods of milder weather. When the HVAC system is running regularly, once monthly filter changes may be beneficial.
7. Consider a Premium Filter
Not all HVAC filters are created the same. Many take just a small amount of pollutants out of your air, catching only the largest particles. This provides basic protection against pollutants like dust, but it doesn’t catch tiny particles such as mold or bacteria that can cause illness if breathed into the lungs.
Some filters use more advanced technology that allows them to trap particles so small they’re naked to the human eye. These particles include chemical compounds from cleaners and makeup, pet dander, and other allergen particles, along with airborne illnesses. Though they cost more, they’re worth the improved air quality, especially during winter when you’re indoors much of the time.
Companies like Honey's Air & Solar specialize in providing indoor air quality solutions. For example, you can remove more particulate matter by changing the filter used by your home comfort systems. Newer filters last longer and remove smaller particles from the air. For VOC removal, an air purifying system installed in your ductwork uses ultraviolet light and a catalyst to break down harmful chemicals in the air.
If you have questions about air pollutants or air quality, the knowledgeable technicians at Honey's Air & Solar can help. We also offer heating services, cooling services, and products like solar panels. Contact us today and let us show you some clean air solutions.
