How to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution In the Fall When Trapped Indoors

This year, with the COVID pandemic, reducing the levels of the pollutants in the air circulating throughout your home is crucial. Research has shown air trapped inside residential homes is significantly more polluted than outdoor air. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaners, off-gassing of furnishings, allergens like pollen and pet dander, and mold, bacteria, and viruses can quickly buildup in your home, creating an unhealthy environment. How can you protect your family from these contaminants and breathe easier?

5 Ways to Combat Indoor Air Pollution (IAP)

1. Eliminate sources of pollution.
   The EPA identifies one of the most effective ways to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in the home is to eliminate these potential pollutants at the source:
   • Cleaning chemicals and air fresheners, which produce VOCs.
   • Tobacco products, which emit carcinogens, toxic metals, and other poisons.
   • Combustion appliances that burn oil, gas, kerosene, and wood as a fuel source, which can leak deadly carbon monoxide into the home without proper maintenance.
   • Pressed wood/particleboard and laminated furnishings, which continuously release formaldehyde.
   • Pesticides, which are inherently toxic.
   • Wet furnishings and building materials, which serve as a breeding ground for toxic mold.
2. Boost ventilation.
   Open windows to flush out indoor pollutants and circulate clean, fresh air throughout your home whenever possible. Talk to your local HVAC pro about incorporating mechanical ventilation to bring fresh air into your home in the winter.
3. Upgrade your air filtering equipment.
   Add a few bells and whistles to your heating and air conditioning system to remove dangerous particles from the air in your home:
   • Upgrade your home air filter to remove more pollutants from the air.
   • Add a UV light air purifier to your HVAC to kill dangerous viruses, bacteria, and mold.
   • Kill up to 99% of airborne and surface viruses, bacteria, and mold with the revolutionary Air Scrubber by Aerus.
4. Install a whole-house humidifier.
   Winter air is dry, causing particles like pollen, dander, bacteria, and viruses to disperse and remain suspended in the air. Using a whole-house humidifier in the fall and winter quickly solves this problem. These devices operate in conjunction with your central heating system, monitoring humidity levels. When air is dry, humidifiers add moisture to the air, distributing it throughout your home with conditioned air.
5. Have your home heating system regularly inspected.
   Maintenance is about more than a well-functioning, quiet air conditioner. It’s about safety. An inspection in the fall, before winter weather extremes put your system under duress, ensures peak performance. This maintenance is especially crucially for combustion appliances, identifying faulty equipment that could lead to potentially deadly carbon monoxide leaks.

Stand up to the pollutants that put the health of your family at risk. Ensure a safe, healthy home throughout the cold-weather season with the help of H & H Heating & Air Conditioning. Contact us to learn more about making your home safer in the COVID era today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/how-to-reduce-indoor-air-pollution-in-the-fall-when-trapped-indoors/