Avoid Indoor Air Quality Problems With These Steps
There are many more factors that can affect indoor air quality than you might think. Some are simply annoying, but others can pose serious health risks, especially for people who are sensitive to certain pollutants. However, in most cases it’s possible to minimize or entirely avoid problems by taking the right steps. Most of these steps are things you can do yourself, at little or no cost.
Educate yourself about the various things that can affect indoor air quality:
- The US Environmental Protection Agency website offers lots of objective, easy-to-read information, including a free, downloadable Guide to Indoor Air Quality.
- To stay up-to-date on the indoor air-quality issues—and other HVAC issues—pertinent to the Orlando area, be sure to regularly check our blog. You can also download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide there.
Do a home self-assessment to identify pollutants:
- Think about your family’s daily life and household: does it include the presence of things like tobacco smoke, pets, or carpeting? Walk around your home and try to determine which factors are affecting your indoor air quality.
- By identifying the pollutants in your home’s air, you can work to eliminate or reduce them: these include particulates (dirt, dust, tobacco smoke, soot from fireplaces or woodstoves), bioaerosols (bacteria, mold, dust mites, pet dander, pollen) and volatile organic compounds, found in everything from household cleaners and pesticides to carpeting, composite wood products and other building materials.
Start taking corrective action:
- Eliminating tobacco smoke, vacuuming regularly, brushing your pets outside, correctly using and storing household products, and sealing cracks and leaks in your house are all steps you can take to improve indoor air quality.
- Schedule preventive maintenance for your HVAC system: it will work most efficiently when it is clean and in good repair, and it will work to better your indoor air quality.
- Consider special equipment such as electronic air cleaners, filters and fans—talk to your HVAC company about these options.
- Speak to an HVAC specialist about making sure your ductwork is clean and that the ventilation in your home is adequate, to help increase the airflow in your home.
- Install a dehumidifier: In our area, high humidity contributes to indoor air-quality problems, because increased moisture encourages the growth of bacteria and molds in your home.
Every situation is a little different, and there are many variables. So whether you’re contemplating an entirely new HVAC system or simply want to improve the air quality in your home, the Comfort Consultants at Rinaldi’s Air Conditioning Service can answer your questions and point you in the right direction–contact us today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Rinaldi’s services Orlando, Florida and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current specials.