As urban locations, the Elyria and Oberlin areas have plenty of air pollutants that can find their way into your home. By taking steps to improve your indoor air quality, you can make sure those contaminants don’t stick around long.
Improve Your Airflow
Freshen your air by opening your windows for a few minutes after you wake up. Avoid this if you have allergies, however, because pollen counts are highest before 10 a.m. Turn on your kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans after cooking or showering. This removes odors and excess humidity that encourages mold growth.
After you dust or vacuum, run your air conditioner with the fan set to “on.” This circulates your home’s air through the A/C air filter, which removes airborne contaminants. Modern homes are often well air sealed and require a ventilation system for fresh air. If you have no whole-house ventilation system, consider having one installed.
Clean Up the Air
Cleaner surfaces mean fewer lingering contaminants to end up in your air. Dust with a microfiber cloth that picks up dust rather than spreading it. Vacuum at least once a week. Wash bedding once a week in 130-degree water to kill dust mites.
Have your fuel-burning appliances, such as your gas furnace and water heater, inspected annually to ensure they aren’t releasing trace amounts of harmful carbon monoxide (CO) gas into the air.
Inspect your HVAC air filter monthly and replace it when it looks dirty. Standard 1-inch fiberglass filters protect your HVAC system, but don’t clean your home’s air. If you’ve been using these filters, upgrade to a pleated filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of at least 5.
A whole-house air cleaner is another option. These air cleaners sit inside your heating and cooling system and remove or neutralize contaminants in the air passing through. Air cleaners may be designed to control a specific pollutant or combine purification methods to combat several types.
For more pro tips on reducing pollutants in your home, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning in Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area