Staying warm during the chilly winter can be challenging. While being comfortable when the temperature is its coldest is a major priority, how often do you think about the air stuck inside with you? Assuming your home is properly sealed, and you don’t feel drafts of cold air sneaking in, your indoor air quality might be less than desirable.
Sure, indoor air quality isn’t the most exciting thing to think about when it’s so cold outside, but it is important to consider throughout the colder months. The good thing is that improving your indoor air quality is easy and doesn’t require a bunch of effort on your part. From furnace filters to routine winter maintenance, improve the air you’re breathing with a few of these simple tips:
Check your filter
Keeping contaminants out of the air you’re breathing starts with filtration. Not only do furnace filters keep contaminants from circulating over and over, but they also help decrease the chance of those contaminants contributing to allergies, disease, and other illnesses. Ensuring you check your furnace filter once a month can ensure your system is operating at its top efficiency and keeping contaminants out of your air. If you recognize that your filter is dark or dirty, go ahead and change out the filter with a new one.
The size makes a difference
Furnace filters come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses and picking the incorrect one can hurt the cleanliness of your air and its efficiency. Filters that are too small allow unfiltered air through, sending dirty particles out into your home. Going with a filter that is too big simply won’t fit your system correctly, bringing about its issues. To ensure you have the correct size, check the size of the old filter, or look at the owner’s manual of your furnace.
Improved results
When you shop for furnace filters, you’ll see a variety of options, everything from your most basic models that serve their purpose, to the higher-end filters that capture more contaminants. The truth is that the basic filters are created with loose fiberglass mesh, and do offer some protection for your home, but not as much protection as the filters that cost a little more. The difference between the filters has a big impact on your indoor air quality and can help keep your air free from more contaminants. Typically, the filters that are a little more expensive give you greater energy efficiency and could end up saving you money in the long run.
Keeping your air clean and comfortable is one of our greatest priorities and keeping an eye on your furnace filter can help you boost your indoor air quality and ensure your home will stay as comfortable as ever. If you’re interested in knowing more about furnace filters and how they affect your indoor air quality, give us a call at (832) 957-9332.
