We tend to think of our homes as cleaner than the outside world, but when it comes to our home’s air, that’s not always the case. All kinds of particles and contaminants can enter your home and end up circulating throughout your home’s air (the air you breathe).
To improve your home’s air quality, we would suggest:
- Changing your air filter regularly
- Investing in an air purification system
- Cleaning regularly
- Keeping your home’s humidity in the right range
Below, we’ll go into more detail about each of these suggestions, so you can start improving the air quality of your home.
Want a professional’s opinion on your home’s air quality? We’d be happy to help. You can learn more about the air purification services we offer or…
Air Quality Tip #1: Changing your air filter regularly
One of the easiest ways to improve the air quality of your home is to check and replace your air filter on a regular basis.
Your air filter is responsible for catching dust and debris in your home’s air. However, after a while, your air filter can get bogged down with all of the dirt and other contaminants in your home’s air and can get clogged.
A clogged air filter can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system and decrease the air quality of your home.
The solution: During months when your HVAC system is running longer than usual (summer and winter), you should check and replace your air filter about once every 30 days.
Air Quality Tip #2: Investing in an air purification system
Installing an air purification system is one of the more powerful ways to get rid of airborne contaminants and increase the air quality of your home.
While you can purchase portable air purification systems, they only work in one room or space at a time, so our suggestion would be to invest in a whole-home system.
There are a variety of air purification systems, but the two that we would recommend include:
- Germicidal lamp- These purification systems use a UV light to sterilize contaminants like mold, bacteria, and fungi. Germicidal lamps are actually installed inside of your AC system. While germicidal lamps kill contaminants, they don’t remove them from your home’s air.
- High-MERV air filter- The higher the MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) the more effective a filter is at trapping debris. If you install a filter with a MERV rating of 5+, it will help catch contaminants like dust mites, mold and pet hair/dander. Usually, these filters will just replace your current AC filter. However, if you choose to install a MERV 12+ filter, some modifications may need to be made to your system because these filters are very thick.
Our suggestion would be to install both of these purification systems together: the germicidal lamp for microbial contaminants and the high-MERV filter for larger particles. However, to determine which type of air purification system is really best for your home and needs, you should consult with a professional.
Air Quality Tip #3: Cleaning regularly
This suggestion sounds obvious, but the cleaner you keep your home, the less debris can make its way into your home’s air.
We would suggest that you clean regularly with a vacuum that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. A HEPA filter is made out of mesh that captures small contaminants and allergens that pollute your home’s air like:
- Mold
- Dust mites
- Dust
- Pollen
- Smoke
- And more
Air Quality Tip #4: Keeping the right humidity levels
Keeping the right amount of humidity in your home is key to keeping your air quality high.
If there is too much humidity in your home, it can allow mold and dust mites to thrive. On the other hand, if there isn’t enough humidity in your home, the dry air can cause eczema to flare up and irritate allergies and asthma.
Because the air in Idaho tends to be fairly dry, Boise homeowners usually struggle with too little humidity, instead of too much humidity.
With this in mind, our suggestion for keeping your home at the right level of humidity is to install a humidifier.
There are two common humidifiers that we suggest for Boise homeowners:
- Bypass humidifier- A bypass humidifier is installed in your ductwork and will humidify your home when your HVAC system is on.
- Fan-powered humidifier- A fan-powered humidifier is not installed in your ductwork so it can humidify your home whether your HVAC system is on or not.
Before installing a humidifier in your home, you should speak with a technician about which type of humidifier would be best for you and your home.
Want to improve the air quality of your home? Hire the best pros in Boise
If you want to improve your home’s air quality, we’re the team to call. With over 30 years of experience, we’ll help you determine what the best solution is for your Boise home.
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