Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if you aren’t prepared to shower those you love with gifts of chocolate, flowers, jewelry or a night out on the town and are still searching for that perfect gift, you are in luck! Nothing says, “I love you” like improving the indoor air quality of your home. Love is in the air! And we at Blue Heating and Cooling have 3 ways to improve your home’s air quality that are quick, easy and affordable.
Change your air filter
Although this may seem basic, it is surprising how many customers forget to regularly check and replace their filters. A clean air filter will help minimize the contaminants in the air and should be the first step in improving the quality of the air in your home. Don’t wait until you can see the dust gathering on the furnace vents, start changing them on a regular basis to help create a cleaner, dust-free and allergen-free environment. We are happy to recommend the right kind of filter for your system that could remove up to 85% of the air pollutants found in your home! Now, that’s love!
Grow your own fresh air
With more than 90% of your time spent indoors, the air quality of your home is very important to your family’s health. In addition to pollen, bacteria and mold your furnishings, upholstery and cleaning products could also emit toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, chorine and ammonia. To counteract these toxins, place a few child-friendly plants in your home to absorb as much as 87% of indoor air pollutants within just 24 hours!
The Areca Palm (butterfly palm) acts as a natural humidifier as it releases copious amounts of moisture into the air. It has the 8th highest removal rate for formaldehyde and was rated the best air purifying plant by NASA. It does best in direct, bright sunlight.
The Money Plant (Devil’s Ivy) is a hardy plant that absorbs formaldehyde, xylene and benzene which is known to cause dizziness, drowsiness and headaches. It does best with indirect sunlight.
The Spider Plant absorbs benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. It is resilient, easy to care for, easy to grow and thrives in a cool-to-average home temperature with dry soil. It does best with indirect sunlight.
Ditch the toxic chemicals
Sometimes, the fumes and chemicals from your common, everyday household cleaning products are the biggest offenders when it comes to your indoor air quality. Detergent, furniture polish, disinfectants, deodorizers, paints, stain removers and even cosmetics, body and hair care products release harmful chemicals that pollute our homes. There are insecticides, pesticides, weed killer and fertilizer as well as pollutants from insulation, glues and synthetic materials. After a while, these fumes, chemicals and pollutants can build up and affect your health. Consider replacing two or three of your harsher chemical cleaners with a non-toxic brand or home-made vinegar based cleaners to start to reduce those toxins right away.
Changing the air quality in your home is a great way to show your family that love is in the air this Valentine’s Day!
