Indoor air quality in your Jacksonville home is important for your family’s health. A focus on improving air quality usually leads to more than just feeling better, it also creates better energy efficiency, maintains the quality of your home, and saves you money. Start today improving your home’s air quality.
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor air quality is the measure of the level of pollutants in the air inside and around your home. According to the EPA, indoor air quality contains a higher level of pollutants than outdoor air. This means the air inside your home is likely a lower quality than the outside air. Plus, the average person spends 90% of their time indoors.
Poor indoor air quality impacts health. Possible health issues include asthma, headache, insomnia, dizziness and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. More major health issues are also linked to poor health quality, including respiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer. Indoor air quality is serious, but you can take steps to improve the quality of the air in your home.
Impact Of HVAC On Air Quality
The condition of the HVAC unit in your home impacts air quality. In fact, many of the ways to improve indoor air quality for your Jacksonville home are tied to the HVAC system. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system moves air through your home. If your unit is dirty or clogged, then the air in your home will be dirty too.
The type of air filter you select, the quality of your unit, and the frequency of maintenance all impact air quality. Partner with an experienced and trusted HVAC service provider, like J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida to keep on top of HVAC maintenance and improve air quality.
Five Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality In Jacksonville Homes
The good news is that the air quality in your home can be improved. With a few simple steps, you can keep your home’s air at its best.
1 – Change Air Filters
The air filter in your HVAC unit should be changed every one to three months depending on your specific environment. Homes with pets, smokers, polluted outdoor air or with excess dust should change the air filter more frequently. A dirty or clogged air filter blocks air from flowing freely into your home. This means that your HVAC unit is working harder to maintain the thermostat setting.
For most HVAC units, it’s easy to change the air filter. Select the best filter for your unit based on the manufacturer’s instructions and the needs of your family. For families with severe allergies, invest in an air filter with a higher MERV rating so that more unwanted particles are removed from the air.
2 – Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Regularly scheduled preventative HVAC maintenance is one of the best ways to stay on top of indoor air quality. For best results, invest in maintenance twice per year. HVAC maintenance serves to both clean and inspect your unit. By cleaning the inside of your HVAC system, harmful mold, bacteria, and dust is removed from the operational parts.
HVAC maintenance not only improves indoor air quality, but also helps extend the life of your unit, identify needed repairs, and increase energy efficiency. HVAC maintenance is a smart investment for the health of your home.
3 – Keep a Healthy Humidity Level
The level of humidity in your home greatly impacts the quality of the indoor air. The ideal indoor humidity level is between 30% and 50%. In humid areas like Jacksonville, managing humidity levels is a challenge. In fact, many Jacksonville homes use dehumidifiers to help improve indoor air quality.
A dehumidifier works to maintain the desired humidity level by removing moisture from the air. Excess humidity encourages mold and mildew growth, which negatively impacts the health of your family. Also, excess humidity can cause damage to your home. Stay on top of humidity levels to improve air quality and keep your home in top shape.
4 – Keep Your Home Clean
While the HVAC system impacts indoor air quality, the cleanliness of your home is also important. Start by incorporating healthy habits like no smoking indoors and removing shoes before entering. Clean your home weekly by vacuuming, dusting, and sanitizing the kitchen and bathrooms. Also, mop hard surface floors to remove dust and germs.
Deep clean your home quarterly to improve indoor air quality. Tackle tasks like cleaning vents, washing linens, and dusting hard-to-reach places. The key is to keep your home clean so that the air in your home stays clean.
5 – Test for Radon
Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is an odorless gas that exists in the soil and can leak into your home. Homes with basements are especially susceptible to radon exposure. It’s important to test for radon routinely.
If radon levels are found to be high, mitigation solutions are available to lower radon levels. Keep your family safe and improve your home’s air quality with radon testing.
Invest in Better Home Air Quality Today!
Invest in the health of your family by improving the indoor air quality in your home. Take control by keeping your home clean and adopting healthy home habits. Also, partner with a trusted and experienced HVAC company.
At J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing, we have over 60 years of experience providing quality HVAC service to the Jacksonville community. We offer services to improve your home’s air quality, like HVAC maintenance and dehumidifier installation. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
