According to the EPA, your indoor air quality is at least 2 to 5 times worse than the air quality outside. And the average person spends approximately 90% of their day inside.
You want to breathe the best air possible, so why is it so hard to get fresh air? The inside of your house might already have a few house plants and an HVAC air filter, but is it enough? At the same time, your air is being polluted with household items like fuel-burning appliances, cleaning products, candles, and particleboard.
Is your indoor air making you sick? Poor air quality can trigger asthma and allergies or cause respiratory illnesses. If you have been sneezing or coughing more, you need to read on.
You want cleaner air, and we are going to tell you exactly how to improve the indoor air quality in your home.
1. Use the right air filters and replace them on time
We get it, you’re a busy person. You have more important things to do than remember to change your air filter every 30 days (at maximum 90 days).
But if you value your health, you will.
For the best results, you want to purchase filters that have a MERV rating between 7 and 13. This filter rating is best for residential properties because it doesn’t limit airflow and removes many air pollutants. Higher MERV-rated filters, especially HEPA filters will severely restrict air flow, increase your energy bill, and strain your HVAC system.
All of the air in your home circulates through your HVAC system multiple times a day if the HVAC system is running efficiently and your ventilation is good. That means all of your air will ideally pass through your filter.
The right air handler filter is essential to clean the air as it moves through your ducts. If the filter is dirty or you use filters that hold back airflow, your HVAC system can’t perform properly. That causes less air to flow through your HVAC system and your air quality suffers as a result.
2. Buy more house plants
House plants are natural air filters. Not only do they give off oxygen, but many of them also absorb toxins.
Most air pollutants can’t be seen or smelled, but they are in your home constantly. According to NASA, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, ammonia, and trichloroethylene are in everyone’s home. It comes from the off-gassing of materials like plastic, acrylic fiber, rubber, leather, and even paper towels. The amount of items in your home polluting your air right now is insane!
Since mother nature knows how to clean the air, one of our greatest defenses is to bring a little nature indoors. NASA claims the best plants for the job include:
- English Ivy
- Spider Plants
- Devil’s Ivy
- Peace Lily
- Bamboo Palm
- Red-edged Dracaena
Plants like red-edged dracaena remove toxins from the air, while others like spider plants are pros at increasing the fresh oxygen supply indoors. Mix and match your favorites!
If you have trouble keeping plants alive, try a Christmas and Easter cactus (aka “holiday cactus”). They are known to be wonderful at filtering the air and are easy to take care of.
3. Have a UV air purifier installed
A UV light air purifier can clean up to 99% of the microorganisms in your HVAC system. This is especially helpful if you have concerns about mold or bacteria.
The light can be installed in your air ducts or air handler. By emitting ultraviolet rays, it sanitizes everything it touches, even if the offenders are floating in the air.
If you are interested in having a UV air purifier in your own home in Tampa, Florida, it’s important that they are properly installed. Consult a trained HVAC specialist from Action Air Conditioning to learn more.
4. Improve your home’s ventilation
Have an HVAC technician check the ventilation in your home and make sure that your system is doing what it should. Poorly ventilated buildings are not only more likely to grow mold and bacteria, but they can also collect air pollutants and toxins, causing them to reach dangerous levels.
Some ventilation systems are designed to take outdoor air and run it through the cooling system before introducing it to the home. By improving the ventilation system in your residence, you can feel better knowing that all of your indoor air is actually circulating through your HVAC filters and getting clean.
Your HVAC Experts in Tampa, Florida
Now you should have a better idea of how to improve the indoor air quality in your home. Beyond that, if you are concerned about your indoor air quality, get in touch with Action Air Conditioning. We have been serving the Tampa Bay Area for over 30 years, helping people like you find perfect comfort in their homes.