Why indoor air matters
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, poor indoor air can cause short-term effects like irritated eyes, nose and throat, headaches and fatigue, and repeated exposure to some pollutants is linked to longer-term health problems. The good news is that indoor air is something you can control.
1. Keep your system maintained
A heating and cooling system that’s dirty or poorly adjusted moves dust around instead of capturing it. A spring and fall tune-up cleans the parts that collect dirt, checks the filter and drain, and keeps air moving the way it should. Our maintenance plans schedule this for you.
2. Use the right filter, and change it
Many of the filters we pull out should have been changed months earlier. A clogged filter restricts airflow and stops catching much of anything.
- Check your filter monthly during heavy heating, cooling or smoke season.
- A higher-grade (higher MERV) filter catches finer particles like smoke, but it also restricts more air. Ask us what your system can handle before you upgrade.
- For the biggest improvement, a whole-home media filter or air cleaner fits into the ductwork and holds far more than a standard 1-inch filter.
3. Seal leaky ducts
Ducts that run through an attic or crawlspace can leak, pulling in dust and insulation fibers and wasting heated or cooled air. Aeroseal seals ducts from the inside, including leaks behind walls and ceilings that can’t be reached by hand.
4. Control humidity
Tri-Cities winters are dry. Very dry air irritates sinuses and skin; air that’s too humid encourages mold and dust mites. A whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier keeps the house in a comfortable range.
5. Small habits add up
- Take shoes off at the door.
- Vacuum carpets and sweep floors regularly.
- On smoky days, keep windows closed and run the system fan with a good filter in place.
- Open windows for fresh air when the outdoor air is clean.
If smoke or dust is getting to you or your family, call us. A better filter or a whole-home air cleaner may be what gets you through the season.