Do you know what kind of air you breathe daily while in your home? Air quality may not seem like a big deal, but the air you breathe daily tremendously affects your health and well-being. If the air quality in your home is less than satisfactory, it can lead to frequent illness, coughing, sneezing, and other symptoms.
Unfortunately, certain behaviors cause poor air quality more than others. You may not know how some of these common habits affect your air quality. Monitor your air quality to ensure you aren’t breathing in airborne contaminants with every breath. Simple steps can make a world of difference in your air.
We have prepared the top five worst habits for your air quality and how you can avoid them in this blog. Call Cardinal Heating and Cooling in Ashburn, VA, if you’re interested in professional air quality testing or air quality control. We can help you get started on a path towards cleaner, fresher and healthier air.
Schedule service with us online or give us a call to talk to one of our professional HVAC technicians today.
The Five Worst Habits for your Air Quality
1. Forgetting to replace your Air Filters:
Changing your air filters is the most important and often forgotten step of creating good air quality. Your air filters catch all debris and airborne contaminants entering your home. The filters can fill up fast if you have pets or poor outdoor air quality.
If you haven’t changed your air filters in a while, look at how dirty they have become. All of that dust could be floating around your air right now.
A clogged air filter can lead to several issues with your HVAC system. Because the debris can block incoming air, your HVAC system works harder to maintain airflow. This blockage builds wear and tear quickly and affects your air quality negatively.
Your filters are there for your protection, so make sure they can catch all of the contaminants in your air instead of making it worse.
2. Smoking Inside
This tip may seem like a no-brainer. Smoking inside can discolor your wall, deposit odors into your furniture, and hold health risks for your family.
Almost all cigarettes are filled with toxic chemicals such as arsenic, lead, and carbon monoxide during assembly. These chemicals can hang around in your air for longer than you might believe, especially if there’s low circulation. Your HVAC system will also take the air from said room and distribute it all throughout your home.
If you smoke inside, opening a window can make a difference in circulating the toxic chemicals out of your home.
3. Not grooming your Pets.
All hair that falls off your pet is not only filled with germs; it also carries pollen, saliva, and dust. Fido’s hair may be clogging up your HVAC system at this very second. Animals that shed a lot of hair can block up your filters, ducts, and vents.
If pet hair is abundant in your HVAC system, it won’t matter how hard you clean your home. You’ll still see kitty and puppy hairs floating around.
4. Covering up Vents
Sometimes, families accidentally block a vent with furniture or other belongings. Or, maybe they’ve heard that it will help redirect air into other rooms.
There are several reasons why covering up a vent is a bad idea. Your vents are where air enters a space from the ductwork. When the vent is blocked, it will result in a buildup of dust in the ducts. Not only dust, either. Mold and mildew can start to grow due to a buildup of moisture.
Built-up pressure is also capable of harming the ductwork and the heat exchanger. If the heat exchanger is severely damaged, you will have to replace the system.
5. Keeping Windows and Doors Closed
It is important to allow airflow into your home to circulate airborne particles. When you keep your doors and windows closed all the time, your circulation suffers. It allows dust and debris to build up all over your house.
Opening your window with just a crack will provide more airflow than opening it wide. Crack your window just a little bit; out with the old, in with the new.
Get the Best Professional Air Quality Testing Services in Ashburn with Cardinal.
Worried about the quality of your air? Cardinal Heating and Cooling offer the best indoor air quality control and professional indoor air quality testing. You can have peace of mind knowing our technicians are licensed and certified for air purification.
Schedule service online or call us for the best HVAC services near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best ways to raise my air quality?
High-quality air quality depends on variables like climate, outdoor air quality, and HVAC care. You can do the following tasks to ensure that you’re breathing clean all year long:
- Keep your filters, units, and components clear of grime.
- Invest in an air purifier.
- Try ductless AC units and high-efficiency models.
2. Does Cardinal offer any air purification products?
Yes, we do offer air purification products and solutions. We partner with brands that we trust to provide the healthiest air to our customers.
A whole-house air purifier will keep the air in your house free of contaminants, promoting your family’s health. To cleanse the air in your house by eradicating dust, mold, smells, bacteria, and other pollutants, Cardinal Plumbing Heating & Air Inc. installs home air filtration systems.
We are pleased to install an air purifier in your house right away. We are proud to assist homes in Northern Virginia breathe clean, fresh air every day.
3. How do I know what kind of air filter I need?
Find the main returns of your HVAC system: you may only have one or several. Measure the opening for the filter and choose the correct size when you buy.
There are many types of air filters to choose from. Certain air filters will improve air quality, so weigh your options.
Follow us on Facebook for more exciting updates