Boost the Indoor Air Quality in Your NW Arkansas Home With These Upgrades

Spring is finally here, and you know what that means. Allergies. The high levels of allergens in the air this time of year can make your life miserable, and various micro-organisms in the air, such as mold spores, dust mites and bacteria, can actually make you sick. In general, the the air in your home is much more polluted than the air outside. How can you improve the air quality in your Arkansas home and breathe easier? Here are a few methods.

• Source control. This is the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. Get rid of the sources of contamination. Don’t smoke in the house. Put pets outside, or if they’re indoor pets, brush and groom them outside regularly. Adjust your stove and other gas-powered appliances to create fewer emissions. Taking steps to control pollution sources is much better than removing contaminants afterwards.
• Increased ventilation. If your indoor air is more polluted than the air outside, it stands to reason that you can improve your indoor air quality by replacing it with outdoor air. Open up some windows and doors and run fans to get the air circulating. In the summer, get in the habit of airing out your house when temperatures outside allow it.
• Air filtration. Your HVAC system actually filters contaminants from the air it circulates through your home, so running your A/C can help. Just be sure to change the filter regularly to maintain its effectiveness. If you don’t need cooling, you can still run the A/C fan by setting the thermostat on “ON.” Just remember to switch it back to “AUTO” when you no longer need constant ventilation.
• Air cleaners. If your A/C’s filter isn’t doing the job, or you have special air quality requirements in your home, you can use a separate air cleaner. These systems, coming in either room or whole-house models, can eliminate more than 99 percent of contaminants from your home.
• Dehumidification. The humidity in Arkansas can be unforgiving. When it gets above 50 percent, it fosters mold, bacteria and other contaminants. Running your HVAC system helps remove moisture from the air and improve indoor air quality, but for added protection, consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier that lets you adjust humidity levels and keep them under control.

For more tips on improving indoor air quality, contact our experts at Paschal Heat, Air, & Geothermal. We’ve served the HVAC needs of northwest Arkansas for more than 40 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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