Indoor Air Quality, Pt 1

Air quality is extremely important especially if you spend as much time indoors as I do. Maintaining good quality air in your home is especially important in the winter months because you stay indoors more, and your doors and windows are usually closed, preventing any fresh air from the outside from circulating into your home and preventing the escape of contaminants. In fact, on days when the weather is not too hot or cold you should try opening your windows and doors so that more fresh air can circulate through. Also, turn on the ventilators in your kitchen and bathroom. They will help to take out the pollutants.

One of the easiest things you can do to improve the air quality in your home by simply changing out your air filters on a regular basis. Air filters should be replaced or cleaned (depending on what kind of filter you have) every three months. If at some point before the three months is up, you noticed that your furniture is dusty, you may need to change the filters early. You can check to see if they need to be replaced by simply looking at the filter to see if it is dirty. You may also consider putting your hand over the air vent to see to be sure you have normal air flow. If you don't feel anything, then the filter may be dirty. Either way you should check your filters on a monthly basis to make sure they are not dirty and replace them at least every three months.

Upon replacing your filters, take a marker and write the date somewhere on the filter so that a couple of months later on when you think to yourself, "gee, I wonder if it's time to replace the filters..." all you will have to do is look at the filter and you'll know exactly when you need to replace it.

Not only will changing your filters improve your air quality, but it will also help to lower your energy bills.

Inda.org is a website that you can go to for more information on air filters, including what kind of filters are right for your air system. You can also vist epa.gov for information on indoor air quality.