Your HVAC Service in New Jersey and Indoor Air Pollution

Your HVAC Service in New Jersey and Indoor Air Pollution

You probably tend to think of air pollution as something outside, that smog or haze sitting over your city. But the truth of the matter is that the inside air in your home is often more polluted than the air outside.

The air in your home could be polluted by radon, formaldehyde and lead. Some of these pollutants are from chemicals you use in your home, from things like cleaners and other products you use. Some pollutants are tracked into your home.

Regardless of how they got there, indoor air pollution is real and it does pose a health threat. At the very least, people with allergies certainly suffer more. And because we are spending more and more time indoors, this could become a major problem. Experts say we are exposed to a greater degree than we were three or four decades ago.

Oxford Energy, your HVAC repair service in New Jersey, offers tips that will help reduce indoor air pollution in your home.

Suck It Up

Your carpet is home to all sorts of pollutants. If you are using an ancient Kirby to vacuum your carpets, you need to update right away.

By buying and using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, you can reduce the number of toxins and other pollutants in your carpet. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and strong suction ensures that the dirt and dust in your carpet won’t get kicked into the air through the exhaust.

For the best results, you need to have your carpets vacuumed several times a week. And don’t forget the carpet edges, stairs with carpet and upholstered furniture. Be sure to wash out the filter on a regular basis as well.

Mop It Up

If you have hardwood flooring or tile, you still have your fair share of pollutants. Mopping picks up what the vacuum and dusting leave behind. There are new microfiber mops that will capture more pollutants than traditional mops.

Ventilate

You need airflow for good indoor air quality. Getting fresh air flowing through your house will remove stagnant air and refresh indoor air. One easy solution is to simply open doors and windows. Of course, if you live in a city with air pollution, you aren’t doing yourself any favors by letting bad air inside.

What you want to do is open up your house in the early morning or late evening, when traffic levels are at their lowest levels.

But the best option is utilizing a trickle ventilator. These devices allow air from the outside to flow through a filter that cleans the pollutants.

The kitchen is the best place for one of these devices as the way we cook food introduces pollutants into the air.

Clean Your AC

Air conditioners can help improve your indoor air quality, but only if the filter is clean. To improve indoor air quality, you need to be cleaning your AC filter on a regular basis.

Clean Sheets and Clothes

A leading cause of poor indoor air quality is dust mites, which leave you feeling lethargic and tired. Dust mites can be found everywhere, but especially on your sheets and clothes. For this reason, consider washing your bedding on a regular basis and make sure you are wearing clean clothes.

Houseplants

Some houseplants are able to remove toxins from the air in your home. In addition, these plants provide a good look. The bamboo palm, English ivy and red-edged Dracaena are just a few examples of plants that clean the air.

Lose the Shoes

You are a source of indoor pollution if you are not taking your shoes off when you enter your home. You have no idea what is on the bottom of your shoes, so make sure that everyone takes their shoes off when entering your home.

Shame Grandpa

Tobacco smoke is an irritant and breathing in secondhand smoke is very hazardous to your health. To improve the air quality inside your home, don’t let grandpa smoke his cigars in the den.

Know the Products You Buy

There are products you buy to clean or for other uses that contain harmful chemicals. Read up about products that are safe to use around the house.
As with any other service, you only want the best from your heating and air conditioning service. We’re here to make sure you are as comfortable as possible at all times. Call Oxford Energy today.