Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a major role in how fresh your home smells and how easily you can breathe. Chances are that you practice some bad habits that affect your indoor air quality every day. Keep reading to see what habits worsen your IAQ and how you can improve it.
Smoking or Vaping
Smoking is one of the worst habits you can practice inside your home because tobacco and nicotine can stain walls, clog filters and make everything smell bad. While some think vaping is a good alternative, it can cause some of the same problems. Improve your IAQ by discontinuing the use of cigarettes or vapes inside your house.
Leaving Dirty Air Filters
Dirty air filters can worsen your indoor air quality and keep air from circulating properly. You should change your HVAC filter every 30-90 days as necessary. Make cleaning or replacing the filters a part of your scheduled maintenance plan.
Not Ventilating Volatile Organic Compounds
Also called VOCs, volatile organic compounds irritate your nose, mouth and respiratory system. They’re chemicals that items like new furniture, cleaning solutions and hairspray can emit. That doesn’t mean you have to totally forego hairspray or floor sanitizer; just make sure your space is well ventilated when you use them.
Letting Pollen and Pesticides Inside
It’s easy to transfer substances around your house from the outside, including pollen and pesticides. Pollen and pesticides worsen your indoor air quality, making it hard to breathe. Try wiping your shoes off outside on a door mat, leaving them outside or just inside the door to prevent the tracking of those substances.
Not Grooming Your Pets
Whether you have cats, dogs, rabbits or other animals with fur, they can all worsen your indoor air quality. Pets produce dander and fur that can clog your filters and impact your breathing. That’s why grooming them regularly is so critical to protect your IAQ.
Invest in IAQ Products
Poor indoor air quality can cause allergy-like symptoms in the short term and more severe problems in the long term. Get help choosing products that will benefit your home’s air quality when you call Coastal Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc.
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