During the winter months in Utah, it seems as though we spend nearly all of our time indoors when it is too cold and wet to be outside. With all of the extra time spent indoors, it is important to be able to maintain the healthiest air possible while inside our homes. Here are our top 6 recommended tips to maintain clean air inside your home for you and your family:
- Change the Filters Often– This is probably the easiest thing for a homeowner to do. Just replace the air filter in the HVAC furnace unit. Depending upon the type of filter being used, you will need to replace it about every 1-4 months, on average. Changing the filter regularly will not only help the air inside your home to be cleaner, but it will also help the HVAC system to work to its fullest potential. When filters aren’t changed on a regular basis, they can become clogged, and basically won’t serve their intended purpose. A clogged filter will also wear down the effectiveness of the HVAC unit, causing expensive repairs and replacements in the long run.
- Don’t Smoke Inside the House– Smoking regardless of where it is done, is not only deadly for your health, but when smoking indoors, it also furthers these deadly risks. Especially in the wintertime when it is cold outside. It’s even more important to not smoke in the home to maintain a healthier air space inside.
- Invest in Houseplants– There are several different kinds of houseplants that can help to keep the air inside your home naturally clean. They do so by absorbing some of the dirty parts of the air, and processes them in to clean air. Some of the recommended house plants to keep in your home are: Garden Mums, Spider Plants, Peace Lilies, Bamboo plants, among many others that are helpful in keeping the air clean in your home. Not to mention they look great, too!
- Keeping a Clean Home-By vacuuming, mopping and dusting your home frequently, this helps to keep the air cleaner, and less polluted with allergens and dust particles that circulate within your home. Using a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner will also help to trap the allergens inside, rather than putting them back out into the air. Try to vacuum a few times a week, and don’t forget to vacuum the furniture as well, such as couches, recliners, and mattresses.
- Use a Dehumidifier– During the winter months, air can get trapped inside you home and hold too much moisture. The moisture in the air will trap things in like mildew, mold and dust mites. All of these allergens are terrible for air quality, and can potentially be quite harmful for people, as well. During the summer months, using an air conditioner will help to keep the humidity down in your home. But when it is wintertime, the humidity doesn’t circulate out as easily on its own, so using a dehumidifier can really help with this.
- Deep Clean the Vents– The ventilation system in your home should be deep cleaned every few years to help keep the air quality in your home clean. Ventilation systems can collect allergens, dust, dirt and dander over the years. Dryer vents especially should be cleaned out often, to help keep the air inside cleaner, and safer. Keeping the air vents clean also help to reduce the risk of fires, as well. A deep cleaning should be done by a professional about once every 3-5 years. However, about twice a year, the vents should be vacuumed out with the hose of a vacuum cleaner before using the heating and cooling systems to keep the air in your home clean and safe.
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