How to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

Modern construction techniques mean that today’s homes are more airtight than ever. While that’s great news for your energy bills, it can mean a buildup of toxins, allergens and pollutants inside your home or office. With little to no ventilation, allergens and pollutants can follow you inside, clogging up the air you breathe. Even cleaning supplies add unpleasant chemicals to the air, so you need to find ways of cleaning your air and making every breath deep and easy.

Avoid Artificial Scents

While scented cleaning products may smell wonderful, they can also release dozens of chemicals into the air you breath. Even “natural” cleaning supplies are home to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can also lead to negative health side effects. If you want the clean scent of lemon or a floral aroma, try using dried flowers as a potpourri or using a lemon and baking soda cleaner. You’ll still enjoy the fresh scent, but without the chemicals that can leave you choking, coughing or with a runny nose.

Keep Humidity Under Control

Installing a central air conditioning system is a great way to reduce indoor humidity. When the moisture in the air reaches levels above 50 percent, it can encourage mold growth. Not only does this mean you might need to replace sections of drywall and support beams, it also has a negative effect on air quality. If you don’t want a central system, be prepared to regularly change any drip pans or install a separate dehumidifier.

Clean Floors Mean Cleaner Air

Sweeping moves a lot of dust, dirt and debris around your floors, but it isn’t ideal for complete removal. To minimize the pollen count, keep pet dander under control and reduce the amount of dust mites in your home, invest in a good vacuum with a HEPA filter. Vacuum at least twice a week, and pay special attention to high traffic areas. If you keep your floors clean, you can prevent dust from kicking up into the air.

Air Conditioning Improves Air Quality

While avoiding aerosols, fragrance and controlling humidity are all a good start to improved indoor air quality, air conditioning is one of the most important parts of achieving a comfortable interior in your Alpharetta, GA home. At 4 Seasons Heating & Air, we install and maintain central air conditioning units that automatically regulate temperature, humidity and filter your indoor air. When the temperatures rise, the last thing you want to do is open the windows, so contact us today for an estimate and information about installation.