As we inch closer to winter, Canadians are beginning to spend more time indoors with each passing week. November 1st marks the start of National Lung month, which is why we’ve compiled some tips to help you improve the indoor air quality in your home in preparation for the long winter ahead.
Change Your Air Filter
The easiest way to improve the indoor air quality in your home during the winter is to change your air filter. Your air conditioner and furnace share a filter, which means that all of the pollen, allergens, and particles that were filtered out of the air during the summer are now clogging up your filter. Homeowners should change their HVAC filter at least every 90 days, but it’s a good idea to change them at the start of each season as well to ensure you have the best air quality possible.
Let Fresh Air In
Opening the windows is the last thing homeowners think about doing when it’s nice and toasty inside and cold outside, but it can drastically improve your indoor air quality during the winter. If you open a couple of windows in different areas of your home for about 5-10 minutes, it’s enough time to cycle in fresh air, but not so long that you will lose a significant amount of heat. If you have a mechanical air exchanger, you won’t need to do this as the air exchanger is constantly giving you fresh air. The air inside your home can become dry and stale during the winter because it is warmed by your furnace, and there is very little fresh air entering your home. Opening a few windows for a short period once or twice a day can make a huge difference in the quality of your indoor air.
Increase Humidity Levels
During the long Canadian winters, dry indoor air is a problem for a lot of homeowners. Dry air can make your skin and lips chapped and irritable, but it can also affect the health of your lungs and sinuses. Constantly breathing in dry air can dry out the mucus membranes in your respiratory system, leaving you susceptible to illness and infection. A whole-home humidifier is the best way to rid your home of dry, stuffy air and maintain your respiratory health throughout the winter. They work in conjunction with your existing HVAC system and require very little maintenance because they can be programmed to run when the humidity levels in your home drop below a certain percentage.
Improve your indoor air quality this November
with help from the HVAC experts at Delta!
Delta Air Systems Ltd. has been proudly serving the HVAC needs of customers in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph regions for over 65 years. We strive to provide our clients with reliable service and cost-effective solutions.
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