As a homeowner in South Florida, you want your home to be a place of comfort. You understand all that’s involved in maintaining a comfortable and healthy living space, from daily home care routines to decor and the little touches that make a house a home. One often overlooked aspect of a comfortable and healthy home is indoor air quality, and it’s incredibly important for your well-being.
The air inside your South Florida home can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside. Confined spaces and minimal ventilation can create a situation where pollutants hover in the air, jeopardizing the quality of your indoor spaces.
At All Year Cooling, we understand the importance of indoor air quality for your home environment and we’re here to help. Let’s take a closer look at why indoor air quality matters, and why our services are the clean air solution you’re looking for.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters
Indoor air quality is crucial for the health and well-being of you and your family, including your beloved pets. Poor air quality increases the risk of health issues, but when this is happening in your home, the risk is even greater. The time spent inside our homes is significant, meaning the risks of exposure to air pollutants are higher than the time spent in other indoor spaces.
Pour indoor air quality can cause issues that range from mild allergies to more severe respiratory problems, like asthma. In more serious situations, poor air quality can lead to other serious, chronic health conditions.
The fact is that indoor air pollution is one of the biggest environmental risks to public health. According to a report by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average person in the United States spends as much as 90% of their time indoors. While it’s true that residents of lovely South Florida likely spend much less time indoors, it’s important for homeowners to understand the risks of poor indoor air quality, and what can be done to remedy it.
Good indoor air quality isn’t just important for health, but also for your overall comfort and quality of life. There’s something about being in a home with fresh, clean air that lifts your mood, and leaves you feeling energized, and focused. With clean indoor air, you’re less likely to experience symptoms like headache and general fatigue that weigh you down during the day and interfere with quality sleep at night.
For South Florida homeowners who are looking to sell their properties, it’s also important to consider the effects of indoor air quality on property value. Homes with top-level indoor air quality can command a premium over other homes. Air purification features are also major selling points for today’s home buyers.
Common Indoor Air Pollutants
As a homeowner in South Florida, it’s important to be aware of the most common indoor air pollutants that can be affecting the health and well-being of you and your family. Of the most common indoor air pollutants are particulate matter, which includes small, particulate pollutants, such as dust, pollen, and other tiny particles that can be easily inhaled deep into the lungs.
The air outside can be a source of particulate air pollution that can enter your home through open windows and doors, as well as unmaintained vents. As for inside sources of particulate matter, these can come from sources such as cooking, burning candles, fireplaces, cleaning supplies, paints, adhesives, carpets, etc.
Other common indoor air pollutants include mold and mildew, which are known for thriving in damp environments, along with pet dander that exacerbates allergies and respiratory issues.
While regular cleaning, dusting, and portable air purifiers can help remove some particulate matter and other pollutants, these methods are limited in their capabilities, and they don’t address the root issues of indoor air pollution.
This is where All Year Cooling can help. Our services can help improve your home environment and provide a cleaner, healthier space for you and your family.
How All Year Cooling’s Services Can Improve Your Home Environment
At All Year Cooling, we understand the importance of indoor air quality in South Florida homes like yours. We offer a range of services to help improve the air in your home and minimize the potential of outdoor air pollution entering your home.
Duct Cleaning: Ducts are a breeding ground for dust and particulate matter. When ducts are in poor condition, they can also harbor dampness that may lead to mold and mildew. We offer duct cleaning and repair services to keep ducts in top working order.
Our duct services include cleaning, sanitation, sealing, and restoration. In addition to improving indoor air quality, our services can help your HVAC system run more efficiently, saving you money both in the short-term and in the future.
Professional HVAC Services: Our professional HVAC technicians offer a full range of HVAC services. Regular heating and cooling system maintenance is key to ensure your systems are running efficiently, which significantly impacts indoor air quality.
Our professional HVAC services include a full spectrum of AC installation and repair. While heating systems are important, we all know that a properly functioning AC system is essential in South Florida. A poorly running AC system isn’t just detrimental to your comfort, it can also lead to poor indoor air quality in your home.
We recommend an HVAC maintenance visit once a year. This allows us to take the time to thoroughly assess the health and integrity of the entire HVAC system, catch small issues before they become big ones, and recommend ways to improve the efficiency of the system.
Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality In Your Home
Homeowners in South Florida can also do a lot on their own to improve the air quality in their homes.
Natural Ventilation: It’s important to open doors and windows for at least 10-15 minutes every day to encourage natural air flow and flush out indoor air pollutants. Bringing fresh air into your home can help dilute indoor air pollution, lessening its impact. The exception to this is on days when outdoor air quality is poor.
Air Purifiers: Invest in air purifiers in your home to keep the air clean with minimal effort. Today’s air purifiers are capable of capturing and removing small particulates from the air and are especially beneficial in areas where ventilation is naturally limited.
Replace Filters Regularly: Staying on schedule for filter replacement is easy, and one of the most important things homeowners can do to preserve their indoor air quality. Filters on air purifiers and HVAC systems are easy to replace. Professionals, like All Year Cooling can make it even easier by taking care of the work for you.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals and Fragrances: Consider switching to non-toxic cleaning products, to reduce indoor air pollution. Candles and home fragrances can also be a source of indoor air pollution. Still, you don’t have to forgo the ambiance and comfort of candles and home fragrances. Instead, consider using LED candles and simmering aromatic herbs and fragrant fruits in a pot on the stove to scent your home naturally.
Don’t Smoke Indoors: It should go without saying that smoking, in general, is a risk to your health. Smoking indoors releases harmful pollutants, including carcinogenic chemicals into the air. These pollutants can also cling to furniture, carpeting, and even walls, making the pollution more challenging to remedy. If you or someone in your home smokes, the best way to preserve indoor air quality is to smoke outdoors only.
Dust & Vacuum Regularly: Setting a regular schedule for dusting and vacuuming helps to promote good indoor air quality by removing particulate matter from flooring and surfaces around your home. Choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to reduce allergens. Depending on the traffic and activity in your home, dusting, and vacuuming is recommended daily to every few days.
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality Today
The importance of indoor air quality in your home can’t be overstated. Nothing is more important than the health of you and your loved ones. All Year Cooling is your partner in South Florida for ensuring your home’s indoor air quality is as healthy as it can be. We offer heating, cooling, and duct services to keep your home’s systems running efficiently. Contact All Year Cooling today to schedule a visit and discuss the best approach to purifying your home’s air today.