How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality in Winter

February 25, 2017

The indoor air quality in your Sarasota, Florida, home is often lower in winter because people spend more time inside and don’t open their windows. Poor indoor air quality can cause headaches, nosebleeds, irritation, fatigue, nausea, and more. It can even make asthma and allergy symptoms worse. You can improve your indoor air quality in winter by using an air purifier, adding houseplants, or installing ventilation.

Using an Air Purifier

Air purifiers or air cleaners use air filters to remove dust, dirt, pollen, mold spores, and other particles from your home. Some models can even catch bacteria and viruses. You can have a whole-home air purifier installed by a professional, or you can use a smaller, less expensive portable air purifier in just one or two rooms.

Adding Houseplants

Several types of plants can remove pollutants from your indoor air, and most of them are easy to care for. Houseplants also increase the humidity in your home, making it feel warmer in winter. Since keeping too many plants in one room could encourage mold growth, add one or two plants to each room instead. Some houseplants are poisonous when eaten, so you should keep them away from pets. Popular plants that can purify air include aloe vera, peace lily, spider plant, philodendron or elephant ear, and English ivy.

Installing Ventilation

Ventilation removes stale, polluted air and brings fresh air into your home. Add an energy recovery ventilator or ERV to reduce contaminants and conserve energy. ERVs also have heat exchangers that work like heat pumps do. They transfer heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air in winter, and then they switch directions in summer to keep air cool instead. You can choose a whole-home model or a smaller window-mounted or wall-mounted unit.

Custom Air & Plumbing has more than 20 years of heating, air conditioning, and plumbing experience. We can help you improve your indoor air quality in winter and install, maintain, and repair a variety of equipment. Call us anytime at (866) 819-0992 for excellent service.