15 Indoor Air Quality Solutions to Care for Your Air

What do you do 12-20 times per minute, likely without thinking about it? That’s right, breathe. Even though you may feel protected from the outside elements in your home, its air quality may not be up to par. It can be 2-5 times more polluted than walking down a busy street in downtown Calgary. Since people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, investing in quality air is crucial for your health. Read on to get inspired with our 15 indoor air quality solutions to enhance your home with better air care. 

15 Indoor Air Quality Solutions

1. Turn on the furnace blower.

Simply turning on your furnace blower keeps your air quality at optimal levels. It works to re-circulate the air in your home by making its way through the intake and out the ducts to revitalise stale air hanging around. Have a furnace tune up annually to ensure it’s working at its best. 

2. Get some greenery.

There is definitely some controversy about the effectiveness of plants in your home. But at least they look good! However, we know that some work harder to soak up pollutants in your air than others. NASA’s clean air study revealed lilies, devil’s ivy, and spider plants are the best for removing toxic chemicals or carbon monoxide from the air. 

3. Reduce carpeting where possible.

Carpet traps chemicals, dust mites, pet dander, dirt, and fungus, which can be released into the air when it gets cleaned. Floors you can mop are better for your air, but it can be hard to part with your living room accent rug. If you have carpets, it’s worthwhile to invest in a HEPA (high-efficiency particle air) vacuum cleaner. 

4. Install a carbon monoxide detector. 

Carbon monoxide isn’t always something that happens overnight, like in the movies. You may have a carbon monoxide problem if more than one family member (even your fur babies) suffers flu-like symptoms but feels better when away from home. It can be lifesaving to install a carbon monoxide detector in every bedroom to protect your household. 

5. Change your air filter regularly.

The scary part about your air is you can’t even see how many particles are flying around with the human eye. You can trust that they’re being eliminated by relying on a clean air filter. A dirty air filter will act as a reservoir for dirt, dust, and other airborne contaminants. Change the air filter monthly to enjoy better breathing with superior air quality during the heating and cooling seasons. 

6. Don’t smoke in the house.

We almost shouldn’t have to say it – but smoking in the house is the worst thing you can do for your air care. There are over 7000 toxic chemicals that become airborne through second-hand smoke and can remain at harmful levels for up to five hours. 

7. Take off your shoes.

You wouldn’t walk barefoot on a city street. So why would you wear your shoes inside your home? This simple step at the front door keeps dirt, pesticides, and other contaminants at the bottom of your shoe from making their way into the rest of your home. Have a clean, dedicated home-only pair if you enjoy wearing shoes indoors. 

8. Dust regularly.

When it comes to fighting dust, pollen and pet hair, high-quality vacuum cleaners might be pricy, but they’re a powerful weapon in the battle against these allergens. Keep your furniture clean by regularly vacuuming the areas under couches and beds.

Smack cushions, rugs, and blankets against the outside walls to reduce dust accumulation. The best way to get rid of dust mites and germs is to wash your bedding at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and do this once a week. Keep dust from accumulating on your surfaces by wiping them down with a damp cloth once you’ve finished cleaning.

9. Buy an air purifier. 

Pollen and dust particles can be pretty small. Cleaning something you can’t see is nearly impossible. By pulling in bad air, filtering it, and releasing it back into the room, making it much cleaner and fresher, an air purifier may be worth investing in. Check out air purifiers with a high CADR (clean air delivery rate) for the best results. The higher the number, the faster the air filtering equipment will work.

10. Open your windows.

Opening your windows is the cheapest, most natural way to enhance your air quality. However, this may not be true if you’re living next to a construction zone or a Calgarian experiencing chilly spring mornings. However, during prime hay fever months from May-July, you should try to keep them home to let oxygen while letting toxins out. If you ever do a deep clean with heavy chemicals, it’s essential to keep it ventilated by opening your windows too. 

11. Ventilate properly and keep it clean.

Proper ventilation is crucial to protect and improve the air quality in your home. Mould thrives in moist conditions, and allergy sufferers may experience wheezing, coughing, and asthma attacks as a result. Everyday activities such as cooking, washing, and even breathing create water vapour, which needs adequate ventilation.

12. Don’t idle your car in the garage.

Indoor combustion of gas or other fuels can result in hazardous amounts of indoor air pollution and lethal carbon monoxide. In enclosed locations, such as garages, fumes from cars or lawnmowers left running can be dangerous to your health. If you forgot something inside your home, it’s worth turning the car on or parking it outside while you run in to grab it.

13. Throwaway air fresheners.

Although air fresheners can help cover unpleasant odours, each squirt releases a cloud of synthetic chemicals into your house. Swap out artificial vanilla for options that are naturally fragranced or fragrance-free. An even better option would be to use an organic room diffuser or essential oil burner to go completely natural.

14. Inspect your cleaning products.

In general, it’s a good idea to clean your home. However, your cupboard may be full of deadly cleaning agents like bleach and ammonia. Washing them down the drain is also bad for the environment, as it pollutes the water and damages wildlife.

It’s unnecessary to use harmful chemicals to remove grease and filth when there are various environmentally friendly cleaning products available that work just as well and smell even better. Products with components such as cleaning oil or aromatherapy oils are the best substitutes. 

15. Schedule a yearly furnace tune up.

Your furnace is the heart of your HVAC system. It helps circulate the air and delivery cooling or heating on demand. While regular filter changes are important, a yearly visit from a local technician is warranted to optimize your air quality. If your furnace isn’t working correctly, it won’t be able to efficiently clean your air. It can potentially lead to further maintenance issues breakdown completely.

Air quality isn’t something that should be at the bottom of our maintenance list. We rely on it to – well, live! We recommend implementing some of our tips to give your home’s health a boost for supporting your everyday living. Contact our friendly technicians at Plumbing and Heating Paramedics to service your furnace and air conditioner to keep breathing with ease all year long. 

Did you learn something new from our article? Do you have any extra air quality tips you can share with our readers? Comment your answers below so they can find out more.