Breathe Easy: 5 Simple Steps to Boost Your Home's Air Quality

Have you ever considered that the air inside your home could be more polluted than the air outside? Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a significant concern that affects your health and comfort. In fact, studies show that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Poor IAQ can lead to serious health issues, including allergies, asthma, fatigue, and headaches. Fortunately, there are straightforward steps you can take to enhance the air quality in your home. Here are five effective methods to ensure you breathe fresh, clean air.

1. Invest in an Air Purifier

One of the most straightforward ways to improve your indoor air quality is by adding an air purifier to your home. These devices are designed to trap airborne particles, such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, helping to ensure that the air you breathe is much cleaner.

You can select either standalone air purifiers or models integrated into your ductwork for whole-house coverage. If you choose a standalone unit, look for one equipped with a HEPA filter, which can capture 99.97% of particles measuring 0.3 microns or larger. This is particularly important in areas like Tiffin, Ohio that experience fluctuating air quality.

For those not on a tight budget, we recommend getting a whole-home air purifier that works with your central HVAC system. They cover much more space than a stand-alone unit and do a more thorough job of purifying the air in your home.

The REME Halo Air Purifier is a standard model that is meant to be installed in the ductwork and work with your home's central HVAC system.

2. Upgrade Your HVAC Filters

If you have a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, keeping it well-maintained is crucial for good indoor air quality. One often overlooked aspect is the air filter. Many homeowners use standard fiberglass filters, but investing in an electric air filter will greatly improve your indoor air quality. These filters do not need to be changed. Just clean and reuse, limiting your filter expenses and saving money over the span of several years.

With disposable filters, make it a habit to check and replace your filters every three months to ensure your HVAC runs efficiently and maintains clean air throughout your home. For more information about HVAC filters, check out our Homeowner Guide to HVAC Filters here: https://www.greenesplumbing.com/post/hvac-filters

3. Create a Regular Cleaning Schedule

A clean home leads to better air quality. Dust, pet hair, and allergens can accumulate quickly, promoting airborne irritants. Establishing a regular cleaning schedule can significantly reduce these pollutants.

Vacuum carpets and rugs often with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter to trap fine particles. In addition, dust surfaces at least once a week, wash curtains every month, and clean upholstery routinely. You might also want to introduce some houseplants into your indoor space. Certain plants, like spider plants and peace lilies, are known to improve air quality while adding beauty to your home.

Spider plants and peace lilies are great plants to help purify the air in your home.

4. Maintain Proper Humidity Levels

Humidity plays a vital role in air quality. If your home is too dry, it may lead to respiratory discomfort. On the other hand, excess humidity can promote mold growth. Research indicates that ideal indoor humidity levels should be maintained between 30% and 50%. We suggest 40% in our standard home consultations.

Using a dehumidifier can be particularly helpful in areas with high humidity or during warmer months. Conversely, a humidifier could be beneficial in drier climates. Using tools like hygrometers can assist you in monitoring the humidity levels in your home accurately.

5. Ventilate Your Space

Proper ventilation is crucial for improving air quality. Opening windows and doors can allow fresh air to circulate, helping to reduce indoor pollutants, especially after cleaning or cooking. However, in colder months or areas with poor outdoor air, alternative methods are necessary.

Installing exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms can help remove excess moisture and odors effectively. You might also consider an air exchange system, which brings in fresh air from outside while expelling stale indoor air. Ensuring your home is well-ventilated can lead to a noticeable improvement in overall air quality.

Your Path to Better Air Quality

Enhancing your home environment does not need to be complex or expensive. By following these five simple steps, or any combination of them, you can significantly boost your air quality and improve your overall health.

As a homeowner, being mindful of the air you breathe is essential. Try these tips today and transform your space into a healthier, more comfortable environment. Your home is your sanctuary, and the quality of the air inside matters for your well-being.

Making these small yet significant changes can lead to lasting benefits, and your body will thank you for it! Whether you live in Tiffin, Ohio, or elsewhere, take charge of your indoor air quality and enjoy the rewards of cleaner, fresher air.

Simple Solutions For Common Heating Issues: A Beginner's Guide to HVAC Care

Introduction

Ohio winters can be brutal, especially when it comes to cold spells. The extreme temperatures can take a toll on heating equipment like furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, or air handlers. If the heat goes out in the dead of winter, it can cause damage to your home and your health. Access to heat is a health and safety issue, so it's important to ensure your HVAC system is working well before any major winter weather hits.

Replace Dirty Filters

Not Much Air From the Vents? Check the Furnace Filter

The most common issue we see is a dirty filter. When the filter gets too full of dust and dirt, it can prevent adequate airflow and cause the furnace to fall behind. If you notice little to no air coming through the vents, this is always the first place our technicians look. Pro Note: If you have an HVAC System, you have a filter. It may be a common disposable one, or you may have a reusable one. For our Beginner's Guide on Filters, click here.

Uneven Heating in The House? Make Sure the Vents Are Open

If air is not coming out of the vents, they're probably obstructed. Make sure all vents are open and uncovered. Registers should not be blocked by furniture or curtains, as this will result in uneven and inefficient heating throughout the home.

Note: Your registers and your air intake vent are different. The large ceiling vent pictured above is an intake vent and will not produce air. This takes air to the furnace to be heated. If the vent is larger and on a wall or a ceiling, it is most likely an intake vent. Be sure these are not blocked by furniture to ensure the furnace can breathe.

Not Heating Well? Replace the Thermostat Batteries

Most thermostats do not let you know how much life is left in the batteries. It's important to change these every so often so the thermostat is not trying to run on a limited amount of energy. When batteries start to die, they do not provide enough energy for the thermostat to do it's job correctly, and it may start acting weird, not calling for heat or not switching stages like it's supposed to.

Not Heating, But Air is Coming From the Vents? Check the Thermostat Settings

Another common problem we find is the thermostat being set incorrectly. If it's set to cool or fan, it will not heat the home properly and the temperature will drop below the set point. Make sure the thermostat is set to heat mode.

Not Heating Or Turning On? Check the Power to the Furnace

Occasionally, power may be the source of the issue. Double-check the breaker or switch on your furnace to make sure the power is able to go to the unit. If the unit has a plug, make sure it is plugged in.

Strange Sounds or Not Working Correctly? Check the Heating System For Ice or Soot

Occasionally, you may discover ice collecting inside the furnace or on the pipes connected to it. This usually indicates a more technical issue and should be looked at by a technician. When you call, be sure to mention the ice, where it is, and if the unit is still able to heat the home adequately.

When checking for soot, look in and around the bottom of the furnace, as well as the sides. You may notice rusted holes, soot, or excessive corrosion, and all are signs there is an issue with the furnace. Soot is the most common and usually the most serious. This means the unit is "burning dirty" and may not be burning the fuel source completely. Units that produce a lot of soot should be cleaned and checked by a technician every year. If you notice a lot of soot appear all at once, please call a professional to see what may be causing it. If the gas/fuel is not burning completely, it poses a health risk to any residents in the home.

Please Note: Rust around the surface of the unit will likely come with age, but if there are holes in the equipment, it's best to have it checked, especially if soot around the unit is visible.

Corrosion, Soot, or Rust in or Around the Unit is a Bad Sign

Conclusion

Winter is a difficult time for homeowners. The harsh weather causes excessive wear and tear on HVAC and plumbing systems, both of which are necessary for the health and safety of your household. When something breaks, it's best to be prepared and know what to look for. There are some actions you can take as a homeowner to try and remedy the issue before calling a technician, and we encourage you to try these first.

Never be afraid to call your local heating professionals if you do not have heat. It is best to have an established relationship with your preferred heating company so you have someone you know and trust in high-stress emergency situations. You can establish this relationship through non-emergency projects, maintenance visits, or by stopping in to ask questions.

Please Note: Most service companies have a maintenance plan. This is usually the best way to establish a good relationship with the company.

Need a furnace repair near Tiffin, Ohio? Call Greene's! 419-443-8630

www.greenesplumbing.com

How to Care for Your Furnace: Beginner's Guide to HVAC Care

Congratulations! You've purchased a home, filled it with furniture, and decorated the space to make it your own. It's a big step, and a life event most take great pride in. Unfortunately, homeownership doesn't come with a manual, leaving you in a tough spot when something goes wrong.

Furnaces in Ohio are typically turned on in the fall, around September and October, and are most heavily used between December and February. Whether in a new home or a house you've lived in for years, understanding how to care for your furnace is important. It can increase the life and reliability of the equipment and prevent issues with carbon monoxide, a deadly gas.

Here are the 5 areas of furnace care every homeowner needs to know:

1. Annual Maintenance - Cleaning and Servicing the Furnace Before Winter

2. Changing The Filter - Keeping the Blower Motor and Evaporator Coil Clean

3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms - The Best Safety Measure

4. Ducts & Registers - Allowing Your System To Breathe

5. Observing Operations - Sounds & Signs to Look Out For

David Repairing A Furnace

Annual Furnace Maintenance

Regularly cleaning and servicing the furnace is a great way to keep your furnace efficient and running properly. Professional HVAC technicians will have a list of components to check and clean to prepare your furnace for heavier use during the winter. These appointments are generally less expensive than a standard service call and may even come as part of a maintenance subscription.

Click here for more information on Maintenance.

Changing The Furnace's Filter

Regularly changing the air filter in your ductwork is crucial to ensuring your equipment stays clean and efficient. The filter protects the blower motor and evaporator coil from getting dirty and is the easiest way to prevent damage to the furnace. Depending on lifestyle and household size, we recommend changing filters every 1 to 3 months.

Click here for more information on filters (changing them, different kinds, etc.).

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Carbon Monoxide alarms, or "CO Alarms", are designed to detect carbon monoxide in the home. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a deadly gas that has no odor or color and occurs when natural gas does not burn completely.

With any gas appliance, it's important to have CO alarms to know when the gas is present in your home. Testing these alarms and changing the batteries regularly is the best way to make sure you have the proper safety measures in place. If the alarm goes off, it's important to call an expert right away so they can find where the CO is coming from and remedy the issue.

Click here for more information about Carbon Monoxide from Furnaces.

Ducts & Registers - Letting the Furnace Breathe

Ducted HVAC Systems need adequate airflow to work properly. If ducts and registers are blocked, it can prevent the air from flowing through as easily, forcing your furnace to work harder. Check all registers in the home to be sure they are clear of objects to allow air to flow through the furnace.

Ductwork cleanings are a great way to improve airflow to the unit. We recommend clearing the ducts before having the furnace serviced due to excessive dust and dirt being kicked up from the ductwork. It's also good practice to check ductwork for any holes or damage that might inhibit airflow, too.

General Observations

Just like your wife, sometimes all a furnace needs you to do is listen. The best way to care for your HVAC equipment is to pay attention to the way it usually sounds so you can notice anything abnormal later. Looking at the unit and noting areas of corrosion, water around the unit, ice building up, or the color of the flame allows you to notice when these things change and could indicate a problem. Even the smell around your unit could help you recognize a gas leak or poor combustion.

During an annual cleaning, it can be helpful to ask your local furnace technician about any concerns they may have noticed. This way, if they notice something, you can keep tabs on it and notify them if the condition worsens (example: small hum becomes loud clanking noise).

Keeping up with these simple practices will allow your furnace to run efficiently, effectively, and for as long as possible.