Little-known tips to improve indoor air quality
(NC)-Clean air is a vital part of good health. Most people are aware of outside pollutants, but the air inside your home can also become polluted, especially in the winter when windows are closed and stale air is recirculated. Improving indoor air quality is easier than you might think. Direct Energy offers the following tips to help keep the air in your home clean so you and your family can breathe easy.
Filter the air
To maintain the efficiency of your furnace and prevent dust from spreading through your house, purchase a high quality air filter for your furnace and replace or clean it every three months. Filtration systems also help clear the air of up to 95 per cent of unwanted pollutants, such as dirt, pollen and pet hair.
Clean your ducts
When it comes to air ducts, out of sight doesn’t necessarily mean out of mind. You’d be surprised at what’s hiding in the ducts behind your walls, causing potential air quality problems and inhibiting the efficiency of your furnace. The average duct-cleaning visit removes five to six pounds of dust, dirt, debris, pollen and other contaminants, none of which are healthy to breathe in. To keep whatever has built up in your ducts out of the air and out of your lungs, schedule regular duct cleanings every three to five years.
Shed some light on your ducts
Ultraviolet lights are used in hospitals to kill bacteria, and they can do the same for the air in your ducts. When installed inside the cold air return (homeowners aren’t exposed to the UV lights) duct near your furnace, they effectively stop the growth of bacteria, fungi and mold.
More information is available online at http://www.directenergy.com or toll-free 1-888-DE-HVAC1.
Credit: www.newscanada.com