The indoor air quality (IAQ) inside your home has a direct relationship to your family’s health over the short- and long-term. The U.S. EPA reports that indoor air inside homes may be one of the worst environmental hazards people face. Improving its quality doesn’t require a costly investment in time or money.
- Don’t smoke indoors. Even the best air cleaners can’t remove all the toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke.
- Test your home for radon levels. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., just behind smoking.
- Choose products that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are found in products made from chemicals, like construction materials, furniture and cleaning products. Their gases can cause minor to serious health effects. Choose alternative cleaning products that are low in VOCs, as well as paint, flooring and finishes. Limit your use of perfumed soaps and air fresheners. Look for a label that indicates the products you bring home are VOC-compliant or VOC-free.
- Have your heating system professionally inspected and maintained annually and be sure you change the air filter whenever it’s covered in dust. A dirty filter can lead to complications with the heating system that may introduce carbon monoxide (CO) into your home, as can leaking ductwork in homes with vented gas appliances. A clean air filter also improves indoor air quality by trapping airborne particulates, like pollen, dust mite waste and pet dander. Upgrade the filters you use to the highest quality available for your particular HVAC system to trap smaller particles.
- Set a routine for checking smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. CO detectors should be tested monthly, since they use more energy than smoke detectors.
- Fix plumbing leaks quickly to lower the likelihood of mold formation indoors. Mold reproduces by sending out microscopic spores that are a known allergen.
- Use the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to remove excessive humidity and odors from your home.
To learn more about improving indoor air quality, contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve provided outstanding HVAC services for Troy, Rochester and Sterling Heights homeowners since 1945.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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