What Are the Best Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality This Fall?

September 24, 2015

Improving indoor air quality improves your quality of life and promotes better health. There are too many contaminants in the average home to not take the issue seriously and just brush it aside. Once you're better aware of the types of pollutants inside and outside your home, you can implement ways toimprove your home's air quality.

Outdoor Air Pollution Fine particulate matter pollution is a very harmful air pollution source that plagues Iowa. In many counties, levels of fine particulate matter are near or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act. Fine particulate matter irritates the eyes, nose, and throat, and may instigate asthma attacks, irregular heartbeat, and heart attacks. Ammonia is another harmful outdoor pollutant. Ammonia emissions contribute to fine particulate matter pollution, and Iowa has some of the highest ammonia concentrations in the U.S.

Indoor Air Pollution Common pollutants found in Greater Des Moines homes include pollen, molds, animal dander, germs and viruses, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), emissions, and outdoor pollutants that become trapped inside. Indoor air that is too damp or too dry is an air quality issue, too, and may encourage the spread of other pollutants present in your home.

Improving Indoor Air Quality Consider the following tips that apply to your home's indoor air quality.

  • Filtration: Choose a high-efficiency air filter to capture fine particulates, allergens, and more.
  • Control moisture: Portable humidifiers and dehumidifiers are fine for an enclosed area, such as a single room or basement. For more comfortable and healthful air in your entire home, a whole-home system is best.
  • Air-sealing: Seal air leaks around windows, exterior doors, the attic hatch, piping, cables, and recessed lighting. Caulk, weather stripping, and expanding spray-in foam are the basic materials to use.
  • Ventilation: Daily ventilation is important to replace stale indoor air with fresh air. Though, opening up windows when it's too cold or too hot outside isn't practical. Whole-home energy recovery ventilators solve this dilemma by preheating or precooling fresh supply air.
For more details regarding improving indoor air quality, contact the experts at Lozier Heating & Cooling today. We've served Greater Des Moines residents since 1906! Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: "Sergey Peterman/Shutterstock"