We all know how important it is to have access to clean, breathable air – both outdoors and indoors. With busy schedules and limited budgets, ensuring good indoor air quality in the home can often fall by the wayside.
Fortunately, there are a few simple solutions that any homeowner can take advantage of to improve indoor air quality. In this blog post, we’ll share six easy steps you can take today to help purify your home’s atmosphere while protecting your family from potential health hazards like dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and even [link id=7693]soil contaminants that penetrate your crawl space or basement[/link] and make their way into the air you breathe. Keep reading for more tips on improving your indoor air quality and creating a healthy living environment.
Is Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality Up to Par?
Indoor air quality is important because we spend most of our time indoors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside our homes and offices can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside. This is especially concerning because indoor air pollution can cause a number of health problems, including allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections.
There are a few things you can do to improve the air quality in your home. One is to install a high-quality air filter in your furnace or air conditioning system. You can also purchase an air purifier to clean the air in specific rooms. And perhaps most importantly, you should have your crawl space [link id=604]encapsulated[/link] and inspected regularly for a long-term moisture control solution.
How to Easily Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality:
1. Improve Ventilation
If you’re wondering why your home is frequently humid, the answer is most likely because you don’t have proper air circulation. To [link id=7046]prevent humidity in your home[/link], use fans and open windows to help circulate air, which in turn can improve indoor air quality. By opening windows and using fans, fresh air can be brought into the home and stale air can be pushed out. This helps to remove pollutants and other contaminants from the air and can create a more comfortable environment. Plus, fresh air is an instant mood booster! When you experience a moderately cool day this winter, we encourage you to open your windows so your home can ventilate and receive fresh air to replace stale air.
2. Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers are a great way to remove pollutants from your home, and they come in a variety of sizes and prices. Some air purifiers are small enough to fit on a desk, while others are large enough to clean an entire room. You can opt to put a small air purifier on your nightstand by your bed so you are inhaling fresh, quality air while you sleep.
Depending on the type of air purifier you use, it can remove allergens from your home and even smoke. Air purifiers are one way to improve the quality of the air in your home as they remove excess pollutants that a standard air conditioning system cannot. Plus, they’re a good investment for people with allergies or asthma.
3. Replace your Furnace Filter Regularly
By replacing your furnace filter regularly in the winter months, you’re ensuring that allergens are removed from the air before you and your family breathes them in. It’s especially important to replace your filter in the winter because since you rely on your heating system more often, pollutants quickly pile up quickly when the heating system is frequently in use. By removing allergens and other pollutants from the air, you can breathe easier and feel more comfortable about the air you breathe in your home. A clean filter also helps your furnace run more efficiently, which can save you money on your energy bills.
4. Keep your Home Clean
Dust and dirt can cause a number of problems in your home, including poor air quality. By keeping your home free of dust and dirt, you can improve the air quality and keep your family healthy. Some ways to keep your home clean and free of dust and dirt include vacuuming regularly, wiping down shelves and tables with a damp cloth to remove dust, and removing clutter from surfaces that are prone to collecting dust and dirt. Additionally, since many households are remiss about keeping their windows and window screens clean in the winter, windows collect many air pollutants. To discourage dust and other pollutants from gathering on and near windows, we encourage you to keep both your windows and window screens clean on a regular basis.
5. Address Moisture Problems
[link id=7163]Moisture problems[/link] in your home can lead to increased humidity levels and decreased air quality. Addressing these moisture problems can help improve the air quality in your home. Proper ventilation, insulation, and air conditioning can all help to keep moisture levels under control and improve the air quality in your home. We encourage families to check regularly for leaks, including leaky faucets, dark spots on the ceiling, and signs of mold on the walls. Since bathrooms incur the most humidity in a home, it’s important to check for signs of [link id=4747]mold[/link] on shower curtain liners, keep the toilet clean, and sanitize the bathtub or shower regularly. Additionally, wipe away excess water that accumulates on the bathroom sinks and counters to reduce the possibility of mold and mildew growth.
6. Encapsulate Your Home’s Crawl Space
By having your home’s [link id=604]crawl space encapsulated[/link], you are automatically reducing moisture underneath your home which improves the air you breathe. Additionally, since your home is not damp inside, it is protected from potential damage, including damage to furniture. Even when you opt for crawl space or [link id=4750]basement waterproofing[/link], it’s crucial to have it inspected on a regular basis to detect any excess moisture or leaks that may exist.
If left untreated, this can lead to extensive damage to your home and can also create an unhealthy environment for you and your family. To ensure the air you and your family breathe is healthy and of the utmost quality, one of the best investments you can make is by having your crawl space encapsulated and inspected on a consistent basis.
Get an Estimate for Crawl Space Encapsulation or Basement Waterproofing
If you are ready to take the first step and have your crawl space encapsulated and/or inspected, we invite you to contact Crawl Space & Basement Technologies of North Carolina today. Our experienced team is happy to educate you on the process of having your crawl space or basement encapsulated and provide an accurate cost quote. Give us a call today at [phone] or fill out our contact form. We look forward to speaking with you!