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What is IAQ?
IAQ, otherwise known as Indoor Air Quality, refers to the air quality within buildings, especially as it relates to the comfort and health of the occupants. Poor indoor air quality can lead to a number of health complications for residents as well as a decrease in overall comfort. Throughout this blog post, we’ll be answering a few of the most common questions people have relating to IAQ. Keep reading for our thorough breakdown.
How often do I need to change my air filters?
You should make sure you’re changing your air filters every 30 to 90 days. IF you have young children, pets, someone who smokes, or anyone with sensitive allergies, then you’ll need to change your filters every 30 days. Everyone else can go with replacing them every 0 to 90 days.
How can I improve my home’s IAQ?
There are several ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality. A few easy ways to prevent
Invest in an Air Cleaner
The type of air cleaner you purchase should be determined based on your home and individual needs. There are a lot of options on the market, which is why we recommend contacting one of our trained technicians for an evaluation and personalized recommendation.
Swap Out Your Air Filters
As we mentioned above, it is incredibly important to maintain a regular air filter schedule. This is especially important if you have health-sensitive people living in your home.
What contributes to poor IAQ?
There are quite a few factors that will negatively impact your home’s air quality. Some of the most common factors include:
Neglecting to Clean
Contaminants such as dust mites, dander, pet hair, dirt, and other airborne contaminants greatly affect our air quality. The volumes of these contaminants can be greatly reduced with a simple solution - cleaning!
Tasks like vacuuming and dusting should be moved up your priority list, as these methods will remove these contaminants and keep them from circulating throughout your home.
Poor Ventilation
Our priority is generating hot air and keeping that hot air trapped inside of our homes during the winter season. However, this typically means our indoor air quality suffers since there’s little to no air ventilation. Recirculating the same air throughout your home also recirculates those same airborne contaminants. An easy way to fix this problem is by cracking your windows on nice days. This will allow fresh air to enter your home and contaminated air to exit. Also, make use of your exhaust fans when you’re showering, cooking, or doing laundry. This will also help to regulate the temperature and humidity levels within your home.
Using Artificial Fragrances
When your kids come home from soccer or baseball practice and reak of sweat, dirt, and who knows what else, it’s tempting to reach for that can of Febreeze to cover up the scent. While it’s effective for a moment, it can have lasting negative impacts on your IAQ. Most artificial fragrances in aerosol sprays (such as Febreze or) utilize chemicals and synthetic fragrances that cover up smells. The same goes for scented candles, especially ones made with a petroleum base. If your still craving a nice candle-lit scene, opt for a bee wax-based candle.
Do you have more questions about your home’s indoor air quality? Are you ready to take the next step and make your indoor air quality its best? Give our team at Kern Heating & Cooling Co. a call at (847) 383-0350 to learn more about your options.