What do you think of when you hear about air pollution? You might immediately imagine a giant cloud of smoke, cars spewing exhaust, or a trash incinerator––but have you ever thought about your own home in Portland?
The reality is airborne contaminants, such as dust, dirt, and pet dander, can negatively impact the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your Oregon home. At Robben & Sons, we want you to breathe in fresh air, which is why we offer maintenance to keep your HVAC in top shape.
How Can I Improve My Indoor Air Quality?
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you may be exposed to two to five times more airborne pollutants by staying indoors rather than outside. To protect yourself and your loved ones, here are five ways you can help your home have better indoor air quality (IAQ):
1. Use Fans and Dehumidifiers
Any area in your home harboring moisture is bad for your air quality. This is because mold and mildew thrive in these areas. If you or a loved one have allergies or asthma, you could be in for some trouble.
To prevent this, turn on fans in your kitchen and bathrooms. Doing so keeps the area dry, which will help prevent the growth of mold. If your basement gets damp, consider purchasing a dehumidifier or talking to our team about a whole-house dehumidifier to reduce the moisture.
2. Tidy Up
Dust can add to your indoor air pollution. Be sure to routinely sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors in your home to prevent a buildup of dust.
Another great way to prevent excess debris from getting inside your Oregon home is by placing a doormat at its entrance. Be sure to vacuum the doormat you keep inside as well. (Vacuums with disposable bags, especially high-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] bags, are better for dust reduction than reusable ones.)
3. Replace Air Filters
Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system air filter should be regularly replaced or cleaned. Industry standards recommend changing your filter every 90 days—more so if you have pets or a smoker inside your home.
Air filters trap dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants that might otherwise circulate throughout your home. If you do not replace or clean the filter, you risk breathing polluted air.
4. Clean Your Air Ducts
Failing to routinely change or clean your air filter can also lead to an accumulation of dirt and grime in your air ducts. This can result in poor indoor air quality as well. While this is one of several causes of dirty ducts, taking care of your air filter is essential in order to have fresh air to breathe in your home.
To prolong the life of your air ducts and ensure you have clean air to breathe, request an air duct cleaning by our Robben & Sons professionals. Our team of HVAC specialists will remove the collection of dirt and thoroughly clean your air ducts for you.
According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), you may want to have air duct cleanings more often if you or a household member smokes, suffers from allergies or asthma, has a pet that sheds, or recently moved into a new home.
5. Schedule Maintenance Service
One of the best ways to improve your indoor air quality is by having our Robben & Sons team of specialists perform maintenance on your HVAC. During a maintenance visit, our professionals will perform an overall inspection and tune-up on your HVAC system.
This includes checking and cleaning your air filter, condensate line, and all other system components to ensure each part of your system is in good, working condition.
Call Us for Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Our team at Robben & Sons understands how important indoor air quality is. That’s why we provide high-quality installation, repair, and maintenance services in Portland, OR. You can always contact our highly trained experts for more recommendations by calling 503-233-5841 or you can request service online today.
