While the Elyria and Oberlin area may be a relatively clean part of Ohio, that doesn’t mean we’re free from indoor air pollution. The more you know about the contaminants that could be floating around in your home’s air, the better you’ll be able to control them.
How Clean Is Your Home’s Air?
With all the cleaning we do at home, it’s natural to assume indoor air is purer than outdoor air. In reality, this isn’t true. While wind and vegetation freshen the air outdoors, many homes suffer from poor airflow, which allows contaminants to build up. To make matters worse, numerous pollutants are produced indoors.
Gas stoves and other appliances give off trace amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) gas, or larger amounts if the appliance isn’t properly aligned. Even low levels of CO can cause headaches and fatigue.
Scented candles may help cover unpleasant odors, but they also release soot and fumes containing harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The fumes from these candles can irritate the eyes and skin. Carpets, furniture and many other materials also produce VOCs.
Simple Ways to Clean up Your Air
While most homeowners know a clean HVAC air filter can reduce indoor air pollution, fewer realize that not all filters have the same efficiencies and replacement schedules. One-inch fiberglass filters protect your system, but they don’t actually clean your air and they usually need to be changed monthly. For cleaner air, choose a filter of MERV 5 to 11. These last longer but should still be inspected monthly and changed at least every three months, even if they don’t look dirty.
While using your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans helps, for better air quality in every room, consider having a balanced whole-house ventilation system installed. You may also benefit from a whole-house air cleaner.
Having your furnace professionally inspected every year and other fuel-burning appliances inspected on schedule helps protect you from CO exposure.
If you could use some guidance on reducing your indoor air pollution, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning in the Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin area.
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 indoor air pollution and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area