According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor spaces can be as much as five times more polluted than outdoor spaces because they trap indoor pollutants. Babies and small children, with their still-developing respiratory systems, are especially vulnerable to its effects. In today’s post, local furnace and air conditioning contractor Bartlett Heating & Air Conditioning shares tips that can help improve indoor air quality for your kids.
Keep an eye on relative indoor humidity. A hygrometer can help you keep an eye on your home’s relative indoor humidity levels and run a humidifier or dehumidifier as needed. You need to make sure that relative indoor humidity levels stay at about 45% — humid indoor spaces can make the air feel heavy for young lungs, and can also allow mold and bacteria to thrive. On the other hand, dry indoor spaces can cause a dry throat and nosebleeds. If your HVAC system doesn’t already have one, standalone hygrometers no bigger than an alarm clock can be purchased online.
Open the windows. Opening the windows for ventilation is the simplest way to flush out indoor air pollutants. Effective ventilation needs good airflow, which can be achieved by opening two windows, one for venting stale air and the other for taking in fresh air. Doing this for at least 15 minutes a day can help keep odors and indoor air pollutants to a minimum.
Inspect the HVAC air filters. The air filters in your HVAC system trap dust, pollen and other indoor air pollutants. They get filled to capacity every one to three months, so you need to inspect them regularly by way of HVAC maintenance and replace them as needed. Consider signing up for an AC maintenance agreement with your contractor, which includes pre-scheduled maintenance appointments that are set throughout your HVAC system’s service life in order to clean and check the system.
Use an air purifier. Air purifiers or scrubbers clean indoor air with an intake blower that pushes air through high-efficiency filters and releases it as clean air. Some types of air purifiers are equipped with UV sanitizers that kill most bacteria and viruses that pass through them, which makes them ideal for kids’ rooms and nurseries.
Call Bartlett Heating & Air Conditioning for Your HVAC and Indoor Air Quality Needs
Bartlett Heating & Air Conditioning provides air conditioning repair and installation services to customers in Bartlett and the surrounding communities in West Chicago. Give us a call at (630) 372-7640 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
