It might come as a shock to some people to learn the air inside their home is often up to 10 times more polluted than the air outside.

This is the cost of our homes being airtight to keep treated air within. This inside air is continuously recycled along with a host of pollutants. We’re talking about mold, dirt, dust, dead skin, pet dander, and pollutants from aerosol spray cans and cleaners, byproducts of construction materials, and much more.

Such is why indoor air quality becomes a serious concern in the wintertime when we usually spend a great deal more of our time inside with our windows sealed tightly, breathing in air that is excessively dry.

The bad news is that poor air quality can have a big impact on our health – especially for children, the elderly, and people who are prone to respiratory issues like asthma and allergies. The good news is there are simple ways to improve the quality of air inside your Lebanon home. Our team here at Lebanon Heating & Cooling present the following tips:

1.) Keep your floors clean, mopping, and sweeping frequently. This includes vacuuming carpets weekly using a vacuum that has a HEPA filter. Hard floors should be mopped frequently using water with white vinegar mixed in. Furthermore, because our shoes transport hazardous toxins and bacteria and toxins into our homes, it’s best to have everyone take off their shoes at the door!

2.) Utilize cleaning products that are “green” – When shopping for cleaning products, focus on using only eco-friendly products if they are any available. Alternately, you can also make your own cleaning products using baking soda and vinegar, which are great natural cleaning agents effective in killing germs, cutting grease, cleaning out drains, and much more.

3.) Avoid products that are scented. A lot of the scents or odorants added to home sprays, air fresheners, and even candles are known to be toxic. A healthy alternative air freshener would be using a diffuser or using essential oils. As far as candles go, the healthiest are made of beeswax and soy scented with essential oils.

4.) Using a whole-house humidifier is effective in combating excessively dry winter air. The air during the winter is significantly dryer than any other time of the year. This excessive dryness can cause irritation to the skin; it can increase symptoms of allergies and asthma even cause damage to your home’s electronics and furniture. Investing in a whole-house humidifier will manage your home’s humidity level and keep it in the healthy 50 to 60 percent range.

5.) Utilize home ventilation. It’s recommended that at least once a week you should turn on fans and open windows to bring in fresher air and remove pollutants that tend to gather in the home.

6.) Consider some plant life. Certain types of plants can help purify the air by sucking in toxic airborne chemicals into their leaves, removing trace levels of toxic vapors through their roots. Moreover, they can improve a home’s ambiance and aesthetic qualities.

7.) Examine materials used for home improvement. Certain types of paint and construction materials can have a lot of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can cause headaches, dizziness, eye and respiratory tract irritation, visual disorders, and impairment of the memory. Use materials low in VOC’s, which are offered at most hardware stores upon request.

8.) Don’t Neglect Annual Maintenance. Regular routine annual maintenance of your home’s heating and cooling equipment keeps airborne pollutants from collecting and circulating throughout your home. You should be checking your system’s HVAC air filters every month, and regularly replacing them or cleaning them.

9.) Consider Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) products. Using indoor air quality products like a whole-house humidifier maintains healthy moisture/humidity levels in the home and inhibits the growth of mildew and mold. Furthermore, a whole-house air purification product will remove irritants and allergens.

Let’s Get Your System Ready for Winter!

Breathe better, cleaner air this winter having peace of mind your indoor air quality is optimal. An HVAC maintenance visit from one of our friendly, highly-skilled technicians at Lebanon Heating & Cooling.  Call us today at (513) 540-1773.