Homeowners: This is your official, indoor air quality welcome to the new year! Isn’t it wonderful to start fresh at the beginning of each year? During the first few weeks of the new year, most people create lists with goals that they would like to achieve by the end of the year. You’ve probably written down a number of resolutions already! We have one to add that you might not have thought of. Be sure to include Improve Indoor Air Quality on your 2022 list. We know it’s not as thrilling as plan a vacation or buy a new car, but it’s just as important as every other goal! Considering the health implications of air pollution, the current state of the pandemic and the impact indoor air has on home quality—it might even be more important. Let’s take a look at the supporting evidence and how you can achieve this goal.
Why Is Indoor Air Quality Important?
Did you know that we spend the majority of our time indoors? Perhaps you’ve seen the 90% statistic before. It’s not an exaggeration! According to researches, we spend roughly 90% of our time indoors. Thus, the importance of indoor air quality cannot be overstated. Here are three of the most important reasons to add improved indoor air quality to your 2022 resolution list.
- Poor indoor air quality directly impacts the health of your home’s occupants. Exposure to poor indoor air quality include symptoms like headaches, fatigue, coughing, sneezing, dizziness and nausea.
- Poor indoor air quality affects the structural integrity of a home. Effects of poor indoor air quality include potential warping, cracking, peeling and rotting of floorboards, wallpaper, carpeting, furniture and other materials. Furthermore, mold and mildew can flourish, adding to the destruction of your home.
- Poor indoor air quality costs homeowners a lot of money. Between visits to the doctor and home repairs, it’s extremely difficult to counteract poor indoor air quality without indoor air quality control strategies and solutions.
IAQ New Year’s Resolution Ideas
There are dozens of ways to improve indoor air quality. In order to avoid confusion, we’ve taken the liberty of listing a few of the most important ways to uphold your improve indoor air quality 2022 resolution.
Choose the Right Air Filter
All filters are built differently. This is a lesson that some homeowners have to learn the hard way. When choosing an air filter, it’s important to choose one that will work well with regard to the conditions in which you live. Some homeowners are not fond of changing the air filter frequently and may benefit from a high-efficiency media filter instead. Others are more environmentally conscious and may benefit from a washable filter, despite the frequent upkeep. Make sure to consider all the factors when choosing a home air filter.
The Best Air Filter: Choosing an air filter is a difficult task when faced with numerous types, materials, ratings, reviews and recommendations. Here’s a simple breakdown of all the home air filter types to choose from. Once you’ve got that figured out, check out our helpful decision tree to find the best filter for your space!Replace Air Filters Regularly
Air filters trap particles that decrease indoor air quality. A dirty air filter cannot capture and eliminate particles as efficiently or effectively as a clean air filter. Instead, a dirty air filter helps circulate harmful air particles each time the heater or air conditioner is on. It also makes your HVAC system work harder. This is entirely avoidable. Simply replace dirty air filters regularly in order to prevent the growth and spread of air pollutants. Committing to an air filter maintenance routine is one of the easiest IAQ action steps!
Schedule Routine HVAC Inspections
Nothing is better than a regular inspection! Routine HVAC inspections are performed by a technician and benefit your home in several ways. A technician will clean, inspect and repair your HVAC unit to ensure that it is working efficiently and effectively. Scheduling seasonal maintenance or regular inspections helps circumvent costly repairs and undue upgrades. It’s also a conscious commitment to improved indoor air quality.
Cleaning for IAQ
Dusting, sweeping and vacuuming your home regularly improves indoor air quality while increasing the lifespan of your air filter by removing harmful pollutants that may become airborne (e.g. dust, dirt and debris). Once these particles become airborne, they circulate throughout your home each time the heater or air conditioner is on. A clean home is a healthy home.
Invest in Indoor Air Quality Solutions
Some indoor air quality issues require a greater investment. For example, depending upon the climate you live in, it may be nearly impossible to control indoor humidity levels without a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier. Another example, if you live in a bustling city or near a power plant or industrial source, then an active air purifier would significantly reduce the amount of ground-level ozone and particulate matter circulating in your home. The point is, there is an increasing number of indoor air quality solutions that allow homeowners to sit back and relax while their indoor air quality is managed for them. Consulting with an HVAC contractor to find the best solutions for your space should be on your 2022 to-do list.
Improve Indoor Air Quality 2022
For some homeowners, investing in indoor air quality solutions may be a large first step. That’s okay! Start small with a regular cleaning schedule and work toward the other indoor air quality goals on your resolution list. While indoor air quality can be improved at any stage, it’s important to start early to ensure that your home’s air quality never becomes an irreparable issue. Step into the new year with the ability to breathe freely.
