Residents of St. George do all they can to keep cool during the hot summer months. This means keeping your air conditioning running and the doors closed so the cool air doesn’t escape. It is a good recipe for keeping cool, but not so much for the air quality in your home.
Air quality is a big deal — especially for people with health issues. Those that suffer from asthma or horrible reactions to allergens really need to be in a clean air environment. There are many additional short-term effects that can come from poor air quality in your home. These include dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, hypersensitivity, and allergies, sinus congestion, coughing, sneezing, and even dizziness. How can you improve the air quality in your home and still use your air conditioning? Here are a few suggestions.
Your Air Conditioning Unit
Air conditioners don’t just produce cold air to make your home comfortable. They can also help improve the air quality in your home. They will do this by drying the air in your home as well as refreshing stale air. Air conditioning units include a filter that eliminates the impurities and pollens from the air. Sooner or later, these filters clog up and can’t do the job any longer. This is bad for your air conditioning unit and your air quality. It is extremely important to have these filters cleaned or replaced regularly.
Speaking of filters, you likely have a few other items in your home that could benefit from a filter change now and then. Take a look at your vacuum cleaner, dryer, and vents in the kitchen. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when doing this.
Mother Nature
Plants are a great way to help with your air quality. Plants need to breathe, just like you do. They take in oxygen and put out carbon dioxide. This helps to filter the air inside your home. Plus, they are a great-looking addition to any home. Here are some good houseplants to consider — Aloe Plant, English Ivy, Bamboo Palm, Rubber Tree, and Snake Plant.
Cleaning
Creating better air quality means reducing dust. And a clean house is a healthier house with that dust and other unwanted materials gone. This should be the focus of your cleaning efforts.
One place that dust tends to gather and build-up is fans. And they often get overlooked when it comes to cleaning and dusting. Add these fans to your cleaning list and it will prevent the dust from circulating through your home. You should also be sure to frequently clean other areas that attract allergens like bedding and drapes. It is a good idea to use dust mite-proof covers on all of your bedding. It will also help to arrange your home with as little clutter as possible. The more surfaces you have in the home, the more places for stuff to gather and the more places that you’ll need to clean. And when you are cleaning, it is best to use eco-friendly cleaning products. Natural products like lemon and vinegar will leave no toxic footprint behind. Many industrial cleaners leave something behind that can affect air quality.
Vacuum
Speaking of cleaning … studies show that regular dusting and vacuuming on a weekly basis can significantly reduce the harmful allergens and dust mites that pollute your home and lungs. Your carpet and rugs add comfort to your home, but they can also collect dust and particles that can get into your air. Make it a habit to vacuum and dust at least once a week and you’ll be able to breathe much easier. This is one reason that choosing hard flooring surfaces is becoming a more popular option.
Home Purification System
Home purification systems are a simple way to keep the air clean inside your home. Adding this to your home can make a huge difference because home purification systems will trap approximately 98% or more of pollen and mold spores.
Cooking Vents
Some air pollutants can actually come out of your kitchen. Both gas and electric stoves (gas stoves will do this at a higher level) can unleash some harmful stuff into the air like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Prevent this from happening when you cook by activating your vents in the kitchen, opening a window, or even cooking outside.
Candles
Believe it or not, but beeswax candles can help too. You may not want to light candles during the hot summer when your air conditioning is already working overtime, but doing so can help with air quality. This is because the candles will release negative ions when they burn. The bad stuff in the air that you want to eliminate has a positive charge so the negative ions coming from the candle cause the particles with a positive charge to get sucked in. Plus, these candles are all-natural!
Furniture
Choose your furniture wisely. Some pieces of furniture are made with glue that can release toxins into the air for a long time after production. It is always a good idea to learn about the production process of the furniture before you bring it into your home. It is best to avoid furniture that is made from particleboard.
Pet Grooming
If you have pets in the home, make sure that they are groomed on a regular basis. Otherwise, pet dander can hurt your air quality. (Pet dander is dead skin cells that animals shed). Proper pet grooming means brushing their coat regularly and increases the importance of cleaning and vacuuming all of your carpet, furniture, and flooring. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Air Ducts And Ventilation
The air ducts are an important part of your home. They are responsible for sending the hot or cold air through your home. Air conditioning doesn’t work without a good set of ducts. Then again, if they aren’t installed properly or they aren’t maintained as they should be, they can spread unwanted contaminants all over the home. Ducts that go unchecked can also collect dust, dirt, and mold. If your ducts haven’t been looked at in a while, give us a call and we’ll check them out for you. With good ventilation, the harmful air pollutants and allergens will circulate outside and out of your life.
No Smoking
We all know that smoking causes health problems for a lot of people. According to WebMD, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Research shows that secondhand smoke increases a child’s risk of developing ear and respiratory infections, asthma, cancer, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For the smoker, this addiction causes cancer, breathing problems, heart attacks, and stroke. Smoking can be the biggest cause of poor air quality in your home. Therefore, if anyone is smoking in your home, the best way to improve your air quality is to quit. And if you can’t do that, at least make sure it is done outside.
Alpine Temperature Control
If you have any questions concerning air quality contact your St. George air conditioning pros at Alpine Temp Control. They’re the best when it comes to A/C repair, service, and air quality. Help us help you have the best air in your house for you and your family.
