How to Improve Indoor Air Quality During Winter

Since we spend more time indoors during the long Milford, MA, winter, it’s important to pay close attention to the quality of our indoor air. Lack of ventilation can lead to high concentrations of particulate matter, which can aggravate allergies and asthma, cause fatigue, and much more. Luckily, there are ways that you can improve indoor air quality during winter.

Change Your Furnace Filter

The air filter in your furnace should be changed once every 30 to 90 days. The exact time frame depends on the type of filter you’re using, environmental factors, and what the manufacturer recommends. More affordable fiberglass filters usually only last around the 30-day point. Higher-quality filters last longer. Higher-quality filters are pleated, giving a large surface area that can remove a greater number of particulates.

Check your filter frequently in between changes to see if it appears dirty or clogged. You should replace it if it’s dingy or you can’t see light through it. You’ll usually need to change your filter more frequently if you have pets in your home.

Upgrade Your Furnace Filter

The kind of furnace filter you’re using will determine your indoor air quality. If you’re using a low-quality filter, it may not be trapping more than the larger particulates it encounters. Air filters have a MERV rating to determine how effective they are at trapping smaller particles. The higher the number, the smaller the particles they trap. MERV 13 is usually the highest rating a home system can handle.

HEPA filters, which are the equivalent of MERV 17 and higher, can remove as much as 99.97% of very small particulates (0.3 microns). This includes many viruses and bacteria. These filters are too restrictive for most home furnaces and are used in commercial and industrial settings.

When choosing an air filter, it’s important that you determine what your main contaminants are. For example, a standard filter doesn’t trap odors, harmful gases, and volatile organic compounds. You’ll want to invest in a filter with activated carbon for optimal effectiveness against these pollutants.

Consider Whole-House Filtration Equipment

If your furnace filter isn’t doing a good enough job at removing particulates from your indoor air, consider investing in a whole-house purification unit. All the air moving through your HVAC system will pass through your filtration equipment. These use HEPA air filters.

You can also have a UV light installed onto your HVAC system as part of your whole-house setup. Specifically, UV-C light will be used to damage the cellular structure of any microbes that are present in your indoor air. This includes viruses and germs that make you sick. UV light doesn’t collect particulates, so this is added to the end-stage of your filtration setup, where the conditioned air is returned to your home.

Control the Source of the Pollution

Consider the type of contaminants that are in your indoor air and determine their source. If you have a lot of pet dander in your home and you own animals, think about how you can contain their messes. This may include more frequent vacuuming and dusting, preventing your pets from entering certain rooms of the home, or brushing and bathing them more frequently. If pollen is a problem, keep your windows and doors closed during times of the year that experience high pollen levels.

Dust should be removed from surfaces on a regular basis. Not only does this remove the dust that is increasing your symptoms, but it also reduces the occurrence of dust mites in the home.

Make Greener Choices

If you have a high concentration of volatile organic compounds in your indoor air, you can make greener choices to promote healthy and safe indoor air quality. These VOCs are chemicals emitted from building materials, cleaning and personal care products, air fresheners, paint, and new furniture. Consider making healthier choices for you and your family, including using cleaning products made from natural ingredients, using recycled and low-VOC building materials and paints, and purchasing furniture used to limit the amount of off-gassing that must occur.

Invest in Houseplants

Houseplants are a great way to add to the aesthetic appeal of your home. However, they can also boost your indoor air quality. Several varieties of plants can remove impurities and toxins from your air. This includes the peace lily, golden pothos, bamboo palm, snake plants, English ivy, spider plants, and the weeping fig.

Just make sure you’re keeping up with the maintenance of your houseplants. Overwatering them can contribute to high levels of humidity in the home. High humidity levels can allow for higher concentrations of particulate matter in your indoor air. It can also promote the growth of mold, which is harmful to your health.

Control Humidity Levels

It is essential that you maintain a level of relative humidity in your home that is between 35% and 50%. If you have higher levels of relative humidity, this can make your home feel oppressive. It can also raise the level of contaminants in your indoor air. Low humidity levels can irritate your skin and sinuses and lead to more frequent infections.

If you need to remove moisture from your indoor air in the winter, a whole-house dehumidifier is an excellent choice. This is a more practical option than moving a portable unit from one room to another. When low relative humidity levels persist, consider installing a whole-house humidifier. Moisture will be added back into your indoor air as needed.

If you are considering upgrading your home to include a smart thermostat, some models will allow you to easily and conveniently monitor your relative humidity. These devices integrate with your air quality devices to automatically keep the proper relative humidity level

You should also ensure that your home is free of any plumbing leaks that could be introducing moisture into your air. Also, check around windows, doors, and your foundation for any signs of gaps and cracks that are allowing moisture and contaminants inside.

Upgrading Ventilation

While it’s not easy to open your windows and doors during the winter months to promote optimal ventilation, you can use other methods. Exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen can be used when you’re bathing, cooking, or cleaning. This removes high levels of moisture from the air as well as other contaminants. You can also have ventilation equipment installed in other areas of your home to improve your indoor air quality, such as your attic and basement.

Improve the Quality of Your Indoor Air

Tingley Home Services has been around since 2003. We offer several services that can help you improve the quality of your indoor air. This includes things like routine HVAC maintenance, repairs, and whole-house filtration equipment. We offer convenient maintenance plans to save you money and hassle. We also install new heating and cooling equipment, offer commercial services, and provide electrical services. This includes the installation of EV charging stations and whole-home generators.

Contact Tingley Home Services in Milford today to schedule an appointment with our team.