Indoor air can contain pollutants in concentrations that are two to five times higher than what’s outdoors. Since people spend 90% of their time inside, indoor air quality becomes essential. The guide below looks at some preventative maintenance tips homeowners should implement so their family can breathe easier.

How to Make Your Home’s Air Fresher

1. Quit Smoking

Stop smoking cigarettes and cigars indoors and ask friends and family who share the habit to step outside. Cigarettes contain formaldehyde among other toxic chemicals that pollute indoor air, stain walls, ceilings, and furniture, and harm respiratory and overall health. Secondhand smoke contains some 7,000 chemicals.

2. Use Eco-Friendly Versions of Favorite Products

Commercial cleaning products contain toxic chemicals, such as bleach that can trigger asthma and pneumonia flare-ups in high amounts. Commercial fragrances in perfumes and air fresheners also pollute indoor air, as do paints and paint thinners.

The latter products frequently sit in garages and attached basements, off-gassing volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. However, today’s market is increasingly producing “green” clean options made from natural, better-smelling ingredients.

3. Invest in an Air Purifier

Browse air purifier options to remove even more contaminants from the air, including smoke, dust, and mold spores. Most small air purifiers have ranges up to 250 square feet, with whole-house versions also available. HVAC repair experts can provide air purification recommendations.

4. Maintain a Healthy Humidity Level

Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels between 30-50%. Excess moisture in the air encourages mold and mildew growth, both of which aggravate respiratory systems. Mold infestations beyond 10 square feet require professional remediation due to the health risks of DIY removal. 

5. Schedule Preventative Maintenance for Your Air Ducts

Request annual air duct cleaning services from HVAC repair technicians. Ductwork and its grates collect dust, rodent excrement, insect remains, dust mites, animal dander, and pollen among other contaminants, all of which get circulated throughout your home when your heating and cooling system is operational. Duct cleaning also includes leak checks to keep carbon monoxide from the furnace out of your house.

If it’s time to schedule duct cleaning, rely on the HVAC team at Johnson’s Heating Air Conditioning & Refrigeration to do the job efficiently and correctly. Based in Calera, OK, and serving Bryan and Grayson counties, the heating and cooling company offers a full suite of services that keep your home comfortable and your indoor air fresh. Call (580) 434-7215 today to schedule an appointment or visit the HVAC repair contractors online for more information. Like the Facebook page for HVAC preventative maintenance tips.