It’s almost Halloween and we are in the midst of fall. But with this change of season comes some not-so-great things for indoor air quality. The drop in humidity and flu season all contribute to the quality of your indoor air. The good news is that you can improve the air in your home with these easy indoor air quality tips.
This article will explore some effective strategies you can implement right now to combat the effects of weather this season. We’ll dive into how you can monitor your indoor environment to identify potential risk factors. We can also help explain the root causes of common IAQ issues. This will help you achieve a clean, comfortable space that also improves productivity during these chilly months.
What is Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor air quality is the healthfulness (or lack thereof) of the air inside your home. It’s impacted by a number of factors, such as:
- The type of building materials used in your home
- Any activities that occur in a given space
- Outdoor weather
- How advanced your filtration system is.
The EPA recommends that you pay attention to your indoor air quality throughout the year. However, there are certain times of year when it’s even more important to be aware of these issues, including the fall.
Can Bad Indoor Air Quality Make You Sick?
Bad indoor air can definitely make you sick. It can cause symptoms, like eye irritation, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.
Some of these issues may be so mild that you don’t even realize you’ve been affected by them. But, in extreme cases, bad indoor air can lead to long-lasting health conditions. This includes asthma, COPD, and allergies.
If you’re experiencing symptoms like those mentioned above, there’s a good chance that the cause is indoor air quality issues.
Clean Ducts for Better Indoor Air Quality
Are you looking for some effective indoor air quality tips? One of the best places to start is with your ducts.
If you’re experiencing bad indoor air quality, the culprit may be your dirty air ducts. This can be the source of allergens, bacteria, and mold. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t realize this can be a problem — or that it can be easily prevented and remedied.
The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to have your ducts cleaned regularly. This is a simple process that can have a big impact on your indoor air quality. If you’re ever in doubt about the quality of your ducts, it’s a good idea to hire a professional to come take a look. They can advise you on when you should have your ducts cleaned.
The Importance of Carpet Cleaning for Indoor Air Quality
Carpets are one of the dirtiest parts of the indoor environment. They are breeding grounds for mold, pests, and bacteria. But they’re also a very common part of most homes.
Unfortunately, even if you vacuum every week (and you really should), this isn’t enough to keep your carpets clean. You need to have them professionally cleaned every few years. But wait, there’s more.
Even if your current carpets are relatively clean, they could be affecting your indoor air quality. If you have old carpets in your home, you need to be aware of the negative effects they can have on indoor air quality.
The good news is that carpet cleaning can help with indoor air quality. Carpet cleaning can help improve indoor air quality by removing dirt, dust, and bacteria from the surface of your carpet. It also helps reduce the amount of allergens that are absorbed by the carpet fibers, which can result in indoor air quality issues like asthma, allergies, and more.
By removing these contaminants from the surface of the carpet, you can reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth in your home. Cleaning regularly will also keep your carpet looking its best.
What is the Best Way to Clean Carpet to Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Professional carpet cleaning is greatly important for your home. But when it comes to indoor air quality, steam cleaning your carpet isn’t the answer.
The truth is that there is a better way to clean your carpets without steam. Steam doesn’t mean clean!
For example, HydraClean Northwest uses a high-powered, truck-mounted dry steam extraction process kills and extracts most germs, bacteria, and dust mites embedded in carpet fibers. Plus, persistent odors are eliminated too! With our process, most carpets are dry in 1 hour or less.
Invest in an Air Purifier this Fall
An air purifier is ideal for those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues. By removing toxins and airborne irritants from the air, you can help improve your indoor air quality.
Additionally, a large portion of the population suffers from allergies and respiratory problems. An air purifier can be a great solution for these people, It can help to improve their health by reducing the amount of allergens in the air.
There are several factors to consider before making your purchase. These include the size, shape, and operating characteristics of the unit. You should also look for a unit that is easy to set up and use, coming with multiple air cleaning stages. Finally, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your purifier.
A good rule of thumb when choosing an air purifier is to buy one that has a range of air cleaning stages (at least three) with different settings. For example, low, medium, and high are common cleaning stages. This allows you to choose the right level of cleanliness for your home.
When shopping for an air purifier, it is important to take into account the size of your home and the amount of space you have for an air flow system. Adjustable models are often the best choice. These allow you to choose airflow settings according to your needs and preferences.
For more information on choosing the right air purifier, check out this information from Consumer Reports.
Indoor Air Quality Tips: Pick the Right House Plants
In addition to cleaning carpets and air ducts, there are other ways to help indoor air quality.
If you’re looking to improve your indoor air quality, you might think that you need more technology in your home, like an air purifier. While these can be helpful and worthwhile additions, they aren’t absolutely necessary. That’s becaue there are certain plants that are known to clean the air in your home (more on that in a minute), many of them don’t work very well in an indoor environment.
Instead, choose plants that can thrive in your home, even when it’s cold and the sun isn’t out. Not only will these plants help make your home more beautiful, but they’ll also help clean the air.
Some of the best plants for cleaning the air in your home includes English ivy,
Bamboo palm, peace lily and spider plants.
Keep a Healthy Home with the Help of HydraClean Northwest
The best way to combat the effects of weather this season is to stay on top of your home maintenance. Air ducts, furnaces, and air filters should all be professionally cleaned once a year. You should also schedule carpet cleaning every six months, especially if you have allergies. We hope these indoor air quality tips help give you ideas on how to take action.
These are small investments that can make a huge difference in your indoor air quality. If you notice your indoor air quality declining, don’t panic. There are lots of things you can do to improve it. With the help of HydraClean Northwest, you can improve the quality of indoor air at home. Contact us to learn more about our carpet cleaning and duct cleaning solutions.