Improving Indoor Air Quality for winter

During the summer it is easy to get fresh air into a home simply by opening windows and doors, but during the winter most of us don't want to waste heat in this way, especially as energy prices are already so high. This can often mean that indoor air quality suffers during the winter months. So if increasing ventilation during the colder months isn't an option, then what other ways are there to improve indoor air-quality? The answer is quite a few, and it is well worth looking into ways to make sure the air is as fresh as it can be during these months. It can help improve health, especially if some of the home's occupants suffer from asthma or allergies, and can generally make you feel better.

Improving Indoor Air Quality through the Use of Air Cleaners

Air cleaners are designed to collect particles from indoor air, and some are more efficient than others. Many homes are contaminated with dust, mold, pet dander and pollen, and most people will benefit from cleaner air. You can purchase tabletop models, or can choose to have a whole house system. Some of the more sophisticated models are extremely effective at removing particles, while you might find that some of the cheaper tabletop systems are a lot less efficient. Air cleaners use sophisticated filters to trap particles by drawing in air through the filter before recirculating it into the room or house. The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on the type of filter, and the rate at which it draws the air through the system. These types of air cleaners cannot reduce the levels of pollutants such as radon.

Improving Indoor Air Quality through Duct Cleaning

Air ducts are the perfect place for particles of dust and dirt to become trapped and regular duct cleaning is essential to prevent these pollutants from being released back into the home. Duct cleaning is necessary if your home is heated by forced air, and involves cleaning not only the air ducts, but also all the other components of a heating and cooling system. This is because it's pointless just to clean the air ducts, as otherwise once the system is turned back on all the dust and dirt will simply be recirculated through the complete system. It's probably not something that needs to be done every year, but it is worth checking every so often to make sure the ducts aren't looking too grubby. It might be worth doing if you've noticed anyone in your household suffering from allergies, or if you've noticed any unexplained illnesses. It is something that should be done by a specialist, and sometimes it may be necessary to use chemicals to control any mold growth that may have occurred.

Ventilation in a Home

Although it is tempting to try to seal your home up as tightly as possible, especially with the current high energy prices, all homes need a little bit of ventilation to ensure home comfort. If there is no fresh air entering the home then the likelihood is that pollutants will accumulate. Forced air heating and cooling systems don't bring in fresh air, so it's essential to make sure you have sufficient ventilation in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and for places where there are sources of heat such as for fuel-burning appliances and tumble dryers.