Calgary’s cold autumn and winter seasons don’t leave many people with a desire to spend a lot of time outdoors. So when indoor life is the norm, indoor air quality can be a concern. Keep yourself breathing easy until the weather warms back up with these tips and practices:
Keep your home clean. Vacuum regularly with a HEPA-filtered vacuum, and keep clutter down. Clutter makes it more likely that dust will accrue in odd corners, only to billow up into the air when disturbed.
Keep mold and mildew out of your home. If you have areas with humidity problems, such as kitchens or bathrooms, consider investing in a dehumidifier. A whole-house dehumidifier can help if you have humidity issues throughout your entire structure, or small portable dehumidifiers can take care of isolated areas.
If you have pets, keep them washed and groomed to prevent excess animal dander.
Wash bedding regularly to prevent dust mites.
Ventilate your home. Bringing in fresh air can help keep your air quality high, and installing a heat-recovery ventilator or energy-recovery ventilator will make sure that you’re not drawing the outside cold in with it.
Make sure that your stove, dryer, furnace, and other appliances are appropriately vented.
Schedule your seasonal HVAC maintenance. A malfunctioning furnace can release fumes or carbon monoxide into your indoor air, which can present a serious health hazard.
Test your CO detectors. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that causes flu-like symptoms and can cause serious brain damage or death if present in high concentrations.
Consider installing an air cleaner. There are a number of air cleaners to choose from, many focusing on different common pollutants. Particulate pollution such as pollen, dust, and insect debris can be filtered out by a media filter or caught by an electrostatic air filter, whereas organic pests such as mold, mildew, bacteria, and viruses can be sterilized using UV lights.
If you want to learn more about keeping your indoor air quality high this season, contact Arpi’s Industries to learn more!
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