If you're like me, you love fall. Not only does it mean sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes, but it also means crisp air as the weather cools down. I know that feeling of fresh air is a perk of having an indoor HVAC system, but did you know there are ways to keep that experience going all year long? Here are some simple tips to ensure your indoor air quality stays fresh this fall:
Replace Your Air Filters
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve indoor air quality is using air filters. If you have an HVAC system in your home, it’s important to ensure that it has an air filter installed. These filters keep dust and mold from entering into your system, which can lead to major damage over time.
Air filters are easy to install and can be found at hardware stores, home improvement stores, online retailers or local grocery stores.
Upgrade Your HVAC System
Upgrading your HVAC system to a more energy-efficient model can help keep your home comfortable and safe. If you're unsure how to do this on your own, call our professional technicians who can advise on which type of system would work best for your home.
Clean The Vents
It's a good idea to clean the vents and cold-air returns around your house at least once a month. This is especially true if you have pets, since their fur will get stuck in the filters of your heating and cooling system, which can affect its performance.
You can use either a vacuum cleaner or a brush to clean the vents. For more thorough cleaning, try using both tools at once—the brush will loosen dirt while vacuuming sucks it up!
If you have cold air return grilles inside of your home (they're usually located near windows), you'll also want to clean them regularly with either the vacuum cleaner or with brushes designed for this purpose.
Take Out The Trash Regularly
Regularly taking out the trash is an easy way to keep your home's indoor air quality as crisp as possible this fall. Remember to take out the trash at least once per week. Make sure you place your garbage bin far away from your house—at least 10 feet away—and don't leave it out in the rain or sun; both are bad for keeping odors at bay. This sounds simple, we know, but you'd be surprised how the little things add up.
Monitor Humidity
If you're not already familiar with humidity levels in your home, they can be difficult to understand. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, and it's expressed as a percentage. There's very little moisture in the air when humidity levels are low, like 20 percent. When humidity levels are high, like 90 percent or higher, it means there's a great deal of moisture present—so much so that you might consider bringing an umbrella outside because it feels like rain!
While most people don't think about humidity often unless they're out on their favorite patio or catching some rays at the beach (and even then, only when that pesky sunburn appears), its importance extends beyond these simple pleasures into every corner of our daily lives—including our homes! In fact, one study found that indoor humidity can affect everything from allergies and asthma symptoms to dry skin and eyes, mold growth, and even potential damage to wood furniture—that's why monitoring your home's indoor climate is crucial for maintaining good overall health.*
If you want to keep those unpleasantries at bay without spending money on expensive air conditioning systems all year round but also don't want to sacrifice comfort by keeping windows closed all day long (which would result in stale air), then installing a humidifier may be right up your alley! These machines work by adding moisture into dry climates, which helps keep everything feeling nice and cozy while reducing static electricity buildup.