With the long winters in our region, Calgary residents often find themselves spending a lot of time indoors. So indoor air quality concerns become a priority with the increased amount of time spent breathing indoor air. You can’t always control the environment in your workplace or school, but you can take some steps to improve your home’s indoor air quality and make it as safe as possible. Here are three areas where you can take proactive steps:
1. Source Control
This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to impact indoor air quality. There are some specific pollutants that wreak havoc on air quality.
- Smoking. Take smoking outside to avoid releasing toxins inside.
- Moisture. Damp conditions lead to mould, so keep your eye on anything that’s wet and could develop into mould.
- Appliances that burn fuel. Proper ventilation and maintenance for things like fireplaces, gas appliances and furnaces direct pollutants out of the home.
- Chemicals. For projects like painting, cleaning or installing carpet, use products that emit lower pollution levels.
2. Ventilation
Even with good source control, you might need to go a step further and use ventilation to your advantage. Mechanical ventilation systems work to transfer indoor air that contains harmful pollutants out and bring in fresh air from the outside.
3. Air Cleaners
For a three-pronged approach, you can combine air-cleaning technology with ventilation and source control to cover all the bases and improve indoor air. There are several types of air cleaners, and each one addresses different needs. Air purifiers often use a hybrid approach, combining the best air-cleaning technologies to address pollutants, chemicals and mould. Filters can be used with a furnace or ventilation system to get rid of pollutants.
With these tips, you can implement a solid strategy to improve indoor air and breathe easy all year long. Your HVAC contractor can help you determine which mechanical ventilation system and air cleaner best fit your needs and your home.
Arpi’s, a leader in Calgary’s HVAC industry, can help homeowners get the best indoor air quality possible. Call us with your questions.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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