COVID-19 (Coronavirus) changes the way businesses operate and how people do things at home. Since everyone is spending more time at home, it’s important to maintain healthy indoor air quality. Here are five ways you can successfully maintain healthy indoor air quality during the COVID pandemic.
1. Improve Natural Air Flow to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Natural ventilation is essential for allowing fresh air to enter and circulate throughout your home. In Florida, continuous breezes can be few and far between. However, during this seasonal time of more temperate temperatures, consider bringing in all the outdoor air you can. To help with natural ventilation, open multiple windows and doors. If you have a townhome, you can maximize your home’s ventilation by opening windows on both floors of your home. Fans can also help with ventilation. If you’re using a fan, make sure the fan faces the same direction in which the air moves naturally.
2. Use Your AC System More
If temperatures are quite warm and your AC system is on, run the fan longer than you normally would to allow continuous circulation of the air. As long as the system is running, the fan can operate without actively heating or cooling your home. If you have a unit that features a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy-recovery ventilator (ERV), use it to maximize your efforts with increasing airflow. Make sure you properly maintain your HVAC unit to prevent expensive repairs.
3. Upgrade Your Filters
Upgrading your filters provides better air purification efforts for your entire home. There are different types of air filters you can choose from, including:
- Pleated filters (least expensive)
- Fiberglass filters (inexpensive and disposable)
- Electrostatic (high-efficiency)
You need to maintain a schedule for changing your unit’s filter. Regularly changing your system’s filter saves money and increases the lifespan of your furnace. The frequency with which you should be changing your air filter depends on various factors, including space, pets, and the type of filter you’re using. In general, fiberglass filters should be replaced every 30 days. Pleated filters can last between three and six months.
4. Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers are effective in removing:
- Allergens
- Unpleasant odors
- Pet dander
- Germs and bacteria
Cities are filled with smoke and pollution, and the COVID pandemic is not making the air any safer to breathe. Air purifiers make the air in your home cleaner and safer to breathe, helping your overall health. Depending on the size of your home, you might need more than one air purifier. One purifier needs to be placed in the room where you and your family spend the most time or where the most vulnerable people in your household, the elderly, children, and people with a weak immune system, spend most of their time. To help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, the air purifier should now blow from one person to another.
5. Improve Indoor Ventilation
If your home has an evaporative cooler or whole-house fan, use it as often as possible.
Here at American Air Cares, we specialize in heating, cooling, and air quality solutions. We have over 25 years of experience and are home owned and operated. We provide air conditioning service in Port St. Lucie, Martin County and surrounding areas. Our work is guaranteed. Give us a call with any questions and our experienced technicians will be glad to help you!
