5 Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

What do you think of when you hear about air pollution? You might immediately imagine a giant cloud of smoke, cars spewing exhaust, or a trash incinerator––but have you ever thought about your own home in Missoula?

The reality is airborne contaminants, such as dust, dirt, and pet dander, can negatively impact the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your Montana home. At Design Air, we want you to breathe in fresh air, which is why we offer maintenance to keep your HVAC in top shape.

How Can I Improve My Indoor Air Quality?

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you may be exposed to two to five times more airborne pollutants by staying indoors rather than outside. To protect yourself and your loved ones, here are five ways you can help your home have better indoor air quality (IAQ):

1. Move Air 

Excess moisture pent up in your home is bad for air quality. Mold and mildew thrive in high moisture areas and a buildup may cause health problems such as asthma or allergies.

To prevent excess moisture, a simple task is to run the fans in your kitchen and bathrooms. This helps remove excess moisture in these areas to prevent the growth of mold. 

You can also ask our team about a whole-home ventilator. Ventilators are responsible for exchanging the air within your home with fresh air from the outside. Especially as homes are built tighter and more efficient, adding a ventilator is a natural way to move air and reduce moisture buildups.

2. Tidy Up

Dust can add to your indoor air pollution. Be sure to routinely sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors in your home to prevent a buildup of dust.

Another great way to prevent excess debris from getting inside your Missoula home is by placing a doormat at its entrance. Be sure to vacuum the doormat you keep inside as well. (Vacuums with disposable bags, especially high-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] bags, are better for dust reduction than reusable ones.)

3. Replace Air Filters

Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system air filter should be regularly replaced or cleaned. We recommend replacement of a 1-2” filter every 4-6 weeks during heavy heating and cooling season and the replacement of a wide media filter every 6-12 months.

Air filters trap dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants that might otherwise circulate throughout your home. If you do not replace or clean the filter, you risk breathing polluted air.

4. Clean Your Air Ducts

Failing to routinely change or clean your air filter can also lead to an accumulation of dirt and grime in your air ducts. This can result in poor indoor air quality as well. While this is one of several causes of dirty ducts, taking care of your air filter is essential in order to have fresh air to breathe in your home.

To prolong the life of your air ducts and ensure you have clean air to breathe, we recommend having your air ducts cleaned by a professional every five years.  

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), you may want to have air duct cleanings more often if you or a household member smokes, suffers from allergies or asthma, has a pet that sheds, or recently moved into a new home.

5. Schedule Maintenance Service

One of the best ways to improve your indoor air quality is by having our Design Air team of specialists perform maintenance on your HVAC. During a maintenance visit, our professionals will perform an overall inspection and tune-up on your HVAC system. 

This includes checking and cleaning your air filter, condensate line, and all other system components to ensure each part of your system is in good, working condition.

Call Us for Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Our team at Design Air understands how important indoor air quality is. That’s why we provide high-quality installation, repair, and maintenance services in Missoula, Montana. You can always contact our highly trained experts for more recommendations by calling 406-251-7997 or you can request service online today.