5 Tips to Clean Your Indoor Air Before the Holidays
While prepping your home for holiday festivities, remember to include indoor air on your to-do list.
Your Ohio home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) can contribute to a warm, inviting, and healthy atmosphere this holiday season. It improves cozy celebrations and big winter parties by eliminating contaminants that trigger sniffles and coughs.
You cannot see, hear, or feel it, but clean indoor air is as essential to holiday planning as the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree. As you ring in the New Year, you will be happy you took steps to improve the air you breathe indoors.
Your family and guests will, too.
Not sure where to start? Carrier Ohio has a network of Carrier Factory Authorized Dealers who can lead the way with clean air solutions that dramatically improve your living environment. To find a Carrier dealer near you, browse our online Find a Dealer directory.
Why Care About Indoor Air?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants can be two to five times higher than outdoors.
Your indoor air can harbor dust mites, pet dander, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals released from cleaning products, building materials, furniture, and other materials. Mold and mildew in your Ohio home can release spores. Sources of smoke and burning fuel, such as natural gas cooktops, can emit tiny particles.
In colder weather, you are less likely to open windows to ventilate your home and let fresh air in. That is unfortunate for your holiday gatherings because dirty air can aggravate allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections.
If the air in your home is dry and dirty, it may pull moisture from your skin, nasal passages, and throat, leaving you more susceptible to colds and sinus infections. Dry air also contributes to static electric shocks.
5 Tips to Clean Your Indoor Air
So, what can you do about improving your indoor air? Start with a few easily achievable steps.
- Clean Your House regularly to prevent the buildup of dust, allergens, and other pollutants. Vacuum carpets, mop floors, and dust frequently. Wipe the registers and grilles that cover air vents.
For a more thorough cleaning, remove the air vent covers and soak them in warm water and dish soap. Rinse, dry, and reinstall. - Choose Quality Cleaning Products: Use cleaners with natural ingredients to reduce chemicals in the air.
- Ventilate: In mild winter temperatures, open the windows to freshen the air. Use exhaust fans in the bathroom and over the stove to remove moisture and fumes.
- Change Your Air Filter: A dirty air filter not only reduces the efficiency of your HVAC system but also struggles to trap contaminants effectively. It will allow dust, pollen, and other particles to move through your unit, ductwork, and living space.
- Increase Humidity: Add moisture to dry air by adding houseplants and allowing steam from your shower to flow out of the bathroom to the rest of your home. Skip the drying cycle on your dishwasher and open the door to let the contents air dry.
A whole-home humidifier can add moisture to the air distributed throughout your home, but you will need professional installation. Consult a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer for a recommendation.
An HVAC Tune-Ups Helps Clean Your Air
The first step toward cleaner air in your Ohio home is scheduling heating system maintenance. A professional inspection, cleaning, and tune-up extend the life of your unit, improve energy efficiency, and enhance indoor air quality.
If the heated air circulating through your home deposits dust and debris in your living space, your air ducts may need cleaning. Ask your local Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer about removing the accumulated dirt and other contaminants from your air ducts before the holidays.
Duct-cleaning experts use professional tools and vacuums to remove built-up debris, leaving your heating system and indoor air clean.
Placing portable air purifiers in key areas in your home can eliminate odors and airborne contaminants, including particles, viruses, and bacteria. For a permanent solution, ask your Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer which whole-house purifier, air filtration system, or ultraviolet (UV) lights would be best for your home.
Improve Your Indoor Air Today!
With the holidays right around the corner, it is time to take action on the indoor air quality in your Ohio home. Cleaning, ventilating, and changing your HVAC air filter are a few ways to prepare indoor air for holiday guests.
If you need professional assistance with HVAC maintenance or air duct cleaning, find a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer through our Carrier Ohio directory.