It’s important for every home to have good indoor air quality. However, not everyone has the budget to make a expensive repairs and investments to improve the air. Fortunately, you don’t have to crack open the piggy bank. We’ve put together an easy guide to the top three ways on how to improve indoor air quality on a budget!

WHY IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

This article is devoted to budget-minded solutions for how to improve indoor air quality. However, many people might wonder why they should focus on such an improvement. Why is indoor air quality so important, anyway? 

It’s important to understand that air pollution isn’t limited to the outdoors. We tend to think of things like smog or ozone as the solo factors for air pollution, but there are also some air quality culprits lurking in your own home!

First, all of us tend to track dirt and outside pollutants inside the house each time we walk inside. Such materials end up inside the carpet or inside your air ducts, meaning that you are constantly breathing them into your body.

Many of us purchase commercial air fresheners to make our homes smell better. Although they can smell great, these same air fresheners often spread harmful chemicals throughout your home.

Finally, there are the usual suspects for decreased air quality in the form of dust mites, pet dander and other allergens. If you don’t take steps to improve your indoor air quality, then you are exposing your family to an assortment of harmful substances.

Not everyone has extra money to spend on these improvements, however that’s why we put together a comprehensive guide to how to improve indoor air quality on a budget!

SOURCE CONTROL

Our first budget-minded solution is what professionals call “source control.” This is one of the most cost-effective solutions, and it helps you to prioritize the air quality improvements that you wish to make.

For instance, if you’re worried about emissions from your gas stove, you can consult with professionals and discover small adjustments that will reduce those emissions. If you are worried about areas of your home that might contain a harmful material, such as asbestos, it’s possible to seal those areas up with very little effort or investment.

Ultimately, this is a great solution because it lets you take things one step at a time. Even if you have multiple factors affecting your indoor air quality, you can tackle each issue in any order you choose– all without breaking the bank.

PURCHASE A HEPA VACUUM

Earlier, we discussed some of the common culprits for holding dirt, dust mites and allergens inside your home. One of the biggest culprits is your carpet and floors. Fortunately, there is an easy and cost-effective way for you to contain this issue.

Purchasing a HEPA filter makes a huge difference in the amount of dust and allergens stored in your home. The primary purpose of the filter is to ensure that the materials you vacuum up are not blown right back out of the vacuum, rendering your cleaning efforts useless.

This simple solution helps you clean a variety of materials, including dust mites, pollen, allergens and a variety of other toxins. All you have to do to improve your air quality is to vacuum the floors two or three times a week!

OPEN UP

When it comes to budget-minded ways to improve indoor air quality, we saved the best for last. You can start by simply opening your windows and doors from time to time! 

Homeowners often imagine that harmful materials will come in via open doors and windows, however, the opposite is true. We seal off our homes and then bring in dirt via our shoes, pets, air fresheners and cleaning chemicals. Afterwards, these pollutants are trapped in your home!

By occasionally opening your windows and doors, it allows your HVAC system to naturally push some of these materials out. You’ll be pushing indoor pollutants out while potentially driving your monthly bills down, as you can now rely more on the great outdoors to help heat and cool your home.

WORTHWHILE INVESTMENTS

The thrust of this guide is about how to improve indoor air quality without spending too much money. However, it’s worth mentioning some of the more costly solutions that may be worth investing in over time. 

For instance, you could invest in whole house air cleaners that focus on removing particles of pollutants directly from the air. You can also have your air ducts cleaned or replaced, which is a great way of removing pollutants that have built up and cannot otherwise be removed.

It’s a good idea to hire professionals to inspect your home for a variety of issues that range from radon to asbestos. While this is certainly more expensive than opening a window, hiring professionals is an investment in the long-term health of you and your family.

WHY ASK PROFESSIONALS?

Many of our budget-friendly solutions are things that you can do on your own. However, we still recommend that homeowners consult with professionals for home inspections as well as recommendations for indoor air quality improvements. 

For the relatively low cost of a consultation or inspection, you might be able to save a lot of money by doing simple improvements that you would not have thought of on your own.

Finally, all of our suggestions are assuming that your home is experiencing  only minor air-quality issues. If there is anything more serious going on, professionals will be able to both diagnose and fix the issue before it makes anything worse.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Now you know how you can improve indoor air quality on a budget and how important it is to call on professionals. But do you know which professionals to call?

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Charlotte, we are devoted to keeping your home cool and clean. To see how we can help you breathe deeply, give us a call today!