How Clean Is Your Home’s Air?
Winter in Pennsylvania and Delaware can be hard on homeowners. On top of weather hazards, like heavy snowfall and below-freezing cold snaps, we have to watch out for cold and flu viruses being passed around. It’s enough to make you want to hibernate in your home all season long!
Before you hunker down, it is important to remember that when you close up against the cold you are also trapping airborne allergens and pollutants inside. The air ducts in your home are responsible for transporting hot and cool air from your heating and A/C systems throughout your home. These ducts are the perfect living environment for all sorts of common household pollutants and particles, like mildew, dust mites, pollen, mold spores, dust, pet hair and dander, and more! And if these materials are in your duct system, they are in the air your family breathes every day.
4 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality This Winter
1. Clean your home regularly
Stay on top of your household chores! Regular dusting and vacuuming helps reduce dust, mold, pollen, and dander buildup in your home. It is also a good idea to steam clean carpets and wash window curtains seasonally.
2. Add plants
Decorating your home with plants will make your space cozier and help clean the air you breathe. Air-filtering plants like Peace Lilies, English Ivy, and Chrysanthemums can help reduce airborne toxins. Just be mindful that some plants can be toxic to pets!
3. Understand humidity levels
During the winter, your heating system is running regularly to keep your family warm. This can dry out indoor air, causing sore throats, dry skin, and other issues. Use a humidifier to help combat these issues, but be sure to watch your humidity levels. Too much moisture in the air can encourage mold and other allergen growth. 30% – 35% humidity is a good range to aim for.
4. Change HVAC filters
Your HVAC filters work hard to keep dust and debris from air that passes through vents. This means that filters can get dirty fast! Your Ferro Fuel service technician will clean or replace these filters during your annual tune-up. If you need cleaning or replacement more than once a year, just give us a call!
Want to learn more about indoor air quality? You can get in touch with your local HVAC service experts at Ferro Fuel Oil online or by calling us at (610) 485-1356.