Winter Seasonal Tips for Maintaining Indoor Air Quality
“Let it snow” season is here! Winter is coming… And brings not only Christmas and presents, but also freezing weather and changes to your air quality. But don’t worry, Jack Frost will stay out with the right steps taken to guard your home heat. So, use the sleeves of your sweater and let’s have an adventure to the question how to keep your air clean and warm.
What Problems You Might Face in Winter?
- Dry Indoor Air. Indoor air can be very dry as a result of heating systems that reduce the humidity. This can cause dry skin, irritation of respiratory tracts, and even augment the risk of getting invaded by viruses.
- Increased Pollutants. Most of the windows are likely to collect more of the pollutants from pet dander, dust, and household products.
- Poor Ventilation. Your ventilation is having hard times during winter because you rarely open windows. So it doesn’t work as well as it could, the circulation of fresh air reduces, and hence pollutants get stagnated and added up inside.
Tips for Keeping Indoor Air Clean and Healthy
Heating System Maintenance
Change Filters Regularly. Changing filters regularly in the heating system is crucial to ensure systems work efficiently and provide good air. Probably, one of your filters might need to be upgraded to high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that may help capture more pollutants.
Have a Professional Checkup. Get the heating system inspected and maintained every year, which could chase the dust or any other particles from flowing around your home.
Reducing Indoor Pollutants
- Avoid using chemicals as much as possible. Use cleaning products with low volatile organic compounds (VOC), and do not use any air fresheners or candles that pollute the air.
- Keep the level of dust and dander down by dusting as often as possible and using a damp cloth to remove it from surfaces. Use a high-efficiency particle-arresting filter vacuum and vacuum daily.
Humidity and Ventilation Solutions
Use the humidifier wisely. We advise you to use a humidifier in the home so your air stays fresh and healthy. It could provide humidity in the range of 30-50%. Clean the humidifiers daily in order to avoid the growth of any mold and bacteria.
Introducing Fresh Air. When weather gives the best of itself, open the windows briefly and let the fresh air into the room for a moment, even during the winter. This could diminish the concentration of pollutants.
Heating systems. Your heating system was idle for months, so when you first turn it on in the fall, it can spread dust and other unpleasant particles around the house.
Mold and dampness. Moisture, that appeared in autumn, can contribute to mold growth, especially in areas where damp leaves collect.
Winter Maintenance Advice
- Check your electrical outlets by making a draft. If you’ve noticed that there is cold air coming from them, even though you have sealed all possible areas on doors and windows, seal outlets with weather stripping or caulking.
- Clean or replace ventilation filters. This includes the kitchen and bathroom exhaust ventilation filters, as they are important in purifying pollutants and moisture from your house.
- Get an indoor air quality monitor. Some of the monitors for indoor air quality measure dust, VOCs, carbon dioxide, and humidity to let you know when it’s time to make changes in your environment.
Conclusion
These simple steps will help you keep your home comfortable, warm and safe for your health when weather outside is rough. Preparing for the winter season is necessary not only to improve comfort but also to ensure the protection of health (that is even more important) by keeping the air indoors clean and fresh.
