Woman opening home window – Image Courtesy of Pexels
With summer in full swing, your HVAC is also probably working overtime. But polluted air in your home can cause hygiene issues if it isn’t kept clean of dust, bacteria, and allergens.
Use UV Lighting
There are many ways to kill germs in your home. Detergents, antibacterial wipes, and bleach are common. But have you considered UV lighting? You might think UV is a strange thing to have in your home, especially to kill germs. But you might not be aware that UV radiation is so effective at killing bacteria that it’s used in water treatment plants. And it’s effective against the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. However, you can’t just stick one on your vents. Fortunately, heating and cooling specialists like 72 Degrees can fit a UV light to your current HVAC system.
Look After the Filters
You’ve probably heard this a thousand times. But you need to change the filters in your air purification devices. HEPA and HVAC filters get clogged up with dust and dirt pretty quickly because they often run constantly. Yet people often neglect them. If you don’t change your air filters, your devices won’t run properly and won’t do their job. In addition, they could be pumping dirt and dust back into the room. The great news is that you only need to clean filters around once per month, and it only takes a minute. Gently remove dust and rinse in warm water.
Wipe Surfaces for Better Air in Your Home
There is dust all around you, and even the cleanest homes have some dust. It’s essentially impossible to avoid. However, a more spotless home has significantly less polluted air quality. Therefore it’s recommended that you regularly dust and wipe surfaces, as well as vacuum carpets and sweep hard floors. In addition, a study by the American Lung Association found that cleaner homes have better indoor air. This is excellent news if you keep your house as clean as possible since most people spend up to 90% of their time inside, most of which is at home.
Maintain Outdoor HVACs
If you have an HVAC system, the main control unit might be located outside the home. Therefore, it is prone to all the nasties that nature can throw at it. Rain, gunk, and weeds can accumulate on an external HVAC. So check it every now and then as you would the gutters for signs of anything that can stop it from working effectively. Remove any visible debris from vents and surfaces, clean the fins with wipes or a hose (never a pressure washer), and check the drains for any clogs. Checking the unit each time you change the filters should be enough.
Keep Up the Work
Putting the effort into getting your indoor air as healthy as possible takes time and effort. But you will get there. In the meantime, try not to get complacent once you begin to see and feel results. You can breathe easier, have more energy, and don’t have an itchy nose. However, all your hard work will be for nothing if you don’t keep a schedule for air hygiene. If you don’t keep up the work, your air will return to how it was before. If you feel it’s too much work, then get other members of the household to pitch in. After all, they’re breathing in just as much air as you are.
Summary
The air in your home can become more polluted than the outside. So you must clean and maintain it. You can do this with UV lighting, clean surfaces, and keeping a maintenance routine.
