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Three Ways To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is often overlooked aspect of a healthy life. After all, if your indoor air is unsafe, it can cause all kinds of problems for you. Contaminants in the air you breathe can get into your lungs, irritate your respiratory system, and cause all sorts of health problems. So keeping your indoor air quality top-notch should be high on any homeowner's to-do list. Here are five ways to increase the indoor air quality in your home, whether you notice that it's lacking due to a specific problem (such as mold) or whether you are simply very sensitive to air quality due to allergies or asthma or for some other reason.

1. Air cleaning machines

Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help you control the water content of your air, which can be crucial in many climates. For example, if you live in a desert climate, you'll need to raise the humidity level in your house to make sure the air doesn't irritate your respiratory system or cause dehydration, encourage skin conditions such as eczema, or cause other problems. However, if you live in the South or in some other damp or humid climate, you'll need to use a dehumidifier to reduce the chances of mold growth in your home. Another air cleaning machine that can be very useful in this area is a filtration system that's separate from your HVAC system. A separate air cleaning system can use multiple filtration methods to keep your air clean and healthy to breathe. For example, UV light can be used to kill microbes, while carbon filters and HEPA filters can remove contaminants such as dust, pet dander, and other potentially problematic things.

2. Having house plants

The more houseplants you have in your home, the more they can help clean your air. The caveat is that plants can also introduce more humidity into the environment, so if you regularly use a dehumidifier, having a lot of plants could work against that. Common houseplants such as peace lilies, lady palms, and even english ivy have been shown to be very effective at removing different types of pollutants from the air.

3. Duct cleaning

If you suspect that the interior of your ductwork is contaminating your air, getting the ducts cleaned out may be a necessary precursor to getting your air quality under control. Check with your HVAC contractor, like Classic Air and Heating, to see if they perform duct cleaning services or if they can recommend a specialist to help you assess and clean out your duct system.   


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