With winter upon us and people spending more time indoors, understanding the importance of indoor air quality (aka IAQ) is key to having a happier, healthier winter. In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of indoor air quality and what you can do to improve it.

Common Winter Indoor Air Quality Issues that Can Affect Your Health

• Dust and Dander: The most common culprits in triggering respiratory allergies, coughs, and sore throats.
• Dry Air: In winter, the air in your home tends to be dry; this can lead to dry, itchy skin, throat irritation, and respiratory issues. Further, dry air is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.
• Biological pollutants: These include mold, bacteria, viruses, pollen, and dust mites that could diseases, trigger hay fever, or induce asthma in adults and children.

What you can do to improve Indoor Air Quality

• Improve your home’s passive ventilation: Passive ventilation is the strategic use of venting to allow your house to breathe properly — and when done correctly, it will not affect indoor temperature.
• Install a high-quality air filtration system: Over the past 20 years, great strides have been made in air filtration/purification technology, and systems such as the Trane CleanEffects system can trap and neutralize up to 99% of bacteria, dust, and other indoor pollutants.
• Consider whole-home humidification: As stated above, dry air can cause a host of indoor air quality problems, and maintaining proper indoor humidity is critical to your health. High-quality steam humidifiers from companies such as Aprilaire are an ideal solution.
• Speak to an HVAC company: Make sure that the company you speak to is an IAQ expert. They can assess your home and make the proper recommendations.

It’s not too late to improve your indoor air quality this winter. Get started today and you’ll enjoy a healthier, more comfortable winter.

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