There is no doubt that winter is one of the harshest and hardest times of the year. In addition to the blistering cold weather, you also have to be cooked up inside the house for large parts of your day. With this in mind, you have to do everything possible to make your experience, and that of your family, as high quality as possible. 

One easy way to do this would be to ensure that the indoor air quality at home is good. Indoor air quality is significantly affected during winter. Because of the cold weather outside, you will notice that most homes tend to be airtight. Homeowners go all out to make sure that any cold air is kept out and all the warm air inside the house generated by the HVAC system is kept in. 

The ultimate goal is to reduce heating costs as much as possible. But this has an effect on air supply. Since the circulation of air in an airtight home is significantly limited, it increases the possible risk of indoor air pollution. The good news is that there are several things you can do to improve indoor air quality at home even during cold winter months. 

Here are some of the things you can try:

Keep Your Home Clean 

The quality of the air indoors is largely dependent on the overall level of cleanliness in the house. A clean house is more likely to have better air quality, especially if it’s airtight. 

In that case, it may be a good idea to clean up your place regularly during winter. Get rid of dust, vacuum clean the carpets, and disinfect all areas of the house as regularly as you can. This will go a long way in preventing the build up of contaminants that will be sucked into the air.

Check the Ducts 

The ducts are the network of pipes that are designed to supply air all over the house. In essence, all the warm air coming through every room is transited by ductwork installed around the entire house. If the ductwork is dirty or contaminated, then the quality of air in supply for the rest of the home will be very low. 

A good rule would be to have the ducts inspected and cleaned right before the onset of winter. Once this is done, inspect them regularly just to be sure there’s no build of dust or any other contaminants.

Make Sure Your Air Filters Are Working 

The air filters in your HVAC system are the first lines of defense when it comes to preventing indoor air pollution. Air filters will clean up the air as much as they can before they release it to your home. 

But if they are not in good condition, they may lack the efficiency needed to do the job. You will sit there thinking your air is filtered only to realize you have been breathing impure air all along. Air filters must be inspected regularly and replaced if need be.

Find Ways to Ventilate Without Losing Energy Efficiency

One of the reasons why homes tend to be airtight during the winter is simply because homeowners don’t want to spend too much money heating up their homes. But there are several ways you can enhance ventilation without necessarily losing overall energy efficiency in your house. Proper ventilation is always crucial in enhancing air quality. Even though it’s hard to get it during winter, at least try as much as you can.

Keeping your home warm during winter is always the first priority. But you also need to factor in indoor air quality. 

Indoor air pollution will not only make your home uncomfortable but it may increase the risk of dangerous health issues if not addressed in time. Request a free inspection quote today!