People care about their health, but one easily overlooked factor in your health is the quality of the air inside your home. Your indoor air quality (IAQ) fluctuates, but some common habits can lower it, which can pose a variety of health issues in the long term. Here are three ways in which you may be harming your own IAQ.
1. Not Scheduling Regular HVAC Maintenance
Over time, soot may gather in the valves of your furnace, and dust may coat your ductwork. Such things can both diminish HVAC system performance and make the air you breathe at home dirty.
HVAC maintenance can tackle both of these issues. We recommend scheduling HVAC maintenance at least once per year, though doing so twice a year is preferable in most cases, once in the spring before AC season and once in the fall before heating season. It’s easier to address issues before they spiral out of control, making maintenance all the more important.
2. Not Changing HVAC Air Filters
Your HVAC system has filters that remove pollutants from circulating air before allowing it to flow into the system. Over time, these filters will accumulate dirt and other impurities on them, decreasing their effectiveness. To keep your IAQ as high as possible, you should remember to replace your air filters at least once every three months.
3. Volatile Organic Compounds
Many of the chemicals used to manufacture products used throughout your home can also impact your indoor air quality. These chemicals can off-gas from those items, from cleaning solutions to furniture and much more. Called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, they’re completely normal in manufacturing but can trigger issues like headaches and nausea, as well as even potentially liver or nervous system damage in the long term.
Though that sounds scary, you don’t have to stop using every product that puts off VOCs. Instead, some of the best ways to prevent VOCs from impacting your IAQ include ventilating your home well when using products containing them and to always follow manufacturer directions for use.
Homeowners in Cincinnati, OH can improve their IAQ with a few common-sense actions. For more help, call Western Hills Heating & Air Conditioning and ask for our indoor air quality services.
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