Winter is coming on fast — maybe a little too fast! Are you and your HVAC system prepared for the potential indoor air quality issues that come with spending so much more time inside?
Here are the top three things you can do to avoid spending all winter with dust bunnies (and the respiratory issues that come along with them!):
1. Change your air filter monthly
“Monthly”? you might be thinking. “That’s totally unnecessary.” Not so! There are so many reasons you should be checking on your air filter monthly to see whether it needs to be replaced. Even if you determine that you don’t need to replace it yet, it’s smarter to at least check. If the filter is clogged, then sensitive components in your furnace get a layer of dust on them. As you can imagine, this creates friction, and the dirty equipment can even stop working. More likely, though, having a dirty filter just makes it harder for air to get through. And the harder it is for air to flow through a clogged filter, the harder your HVAC system has to work in general, and longer too. One symptom of a clogged filter is your heat never turning off, and the blower constantly running — the clogged filter is causing this, and wasting energy. But wasted energy and money isn’t the biggest problem … the potential breakdown of your furnace is!
2. Clean your vents
Another important reason to change your filter: the cleaner the filter is, the better it is at keeping your air pure and uncontaminated! So, if you are sneezing and coughing in your home, a dirty filter could be the culprit. But what else can you do to maintain air quality in your home, when you’re stuck in a stuffy house all winter? One thing you can do is check your vents. Take a look and see how dirty and dusty they are, and give them a good vacuuming with a Shop-Vac.
3. Suck it up!
Vacuuming in general is a great way to keep your home’s air clean. But, there’s a catch. Some vacuums actually kick up dust and do more harm for your home’s air quality. This study shows that many vacuum cleaners release dust particles due to vacuum exhaust. But the solution is easy: use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter and that is sealed properly (called a “sealed system”). Unfortunately, these will be the more expensive vacuum cleaners, but it’s worth it, to avoid particulates from your floor getting into your lungs.
BONUS #4: Invest in indoor air quality devices from H.A. Sun!
Our techs are experts in understanding and installing cutting-edge technology that purifies your home’s air. The iWave Air is a device we install in your home’s air ducts. It produces ions that not only gets rid of allergens, but also pathogens and even odors. The technology injects ions into the air being circulated around your home, neutralizing harmful particles into harmless ones like oxygen and water vapor.
Winters in Bloomfield Hills and Oakland County are rough. But you should be able to breathe easy and comfortably indoors! To learn more about our indoor air quality solutions or our other services, contact us online or give us a call at (248) 986-1506.
