When it comes to clearing the air, prevention is the best medicine.
It would be convenient to point at one single culprit in the battle against indoor air quality, but it is not that simple. Truth is, there are so many potential sources that it is impossible to devise a blanket solution. Chemicals in carpets, household cleaners, furniture and building materials all contribute to poor indoor air quality. Damp basements, and other areas where standing water is prevalent, can also lead to potential indoor air quality concerns.

The first step to better indoor air is to identify the sources of air pollutants. Eliminating the sources of indoor pollutants, to the extent feasible, is the most effective way to clean your air.

Ways To Eliminate Indoor Pollutants

• Do not allow smoking inside your home.
• If possible, keep pets outdoors.
• Immediately dry or replace damp carpet.
• Do not store household cleaners or other chemicals in occupied living spaces.
• Call a professional service technician to regularly check and maintain fuel-burning appliances and equipment in your home.

Can't Eliminate? Then Ventilate.
Years ago, indoor air quality wasn't much of an issue. You could throw open the window of your office to bring in outdoor air. But, in an effort to build tighter, more energy-efficient buildings, open windows all but disappeared from the architectural scene. In recent years, offices and homes are being built tighter, making ventilation and the concentration of pollutants inside a concern.

To achieve proper air circulation, open doors and windows, particularly when you are using cleaning agents, and operate any exhaust fans your home may have. Another way to increase ventilation and dilute pollutants is through the use of an outdoor air connection or products such as heat recovery ventilators (HRV's) and energy recovery ventilators (ERV's).

Cleaning Is Essential
Although ventilation helps to reduce indoor air pollutants, it is not a "cure all". To further reduce concentration levels, you should make a habit of cleaning your living spaces frequently by washing your bedding in hot water (at least 130°F to kill dust mites) and vacuuming and dusting to remove surface dust. Alas, while these practices are effective, not all particles can be eliminated through these methods alone. Some particles are so small, they may escape through the vacuum, or never land on a surface.

Products such as electronic air cleaners (EAC's) or high-efficiency air filters can aid you in capturing these particles. The majority of particles in the air are extremely small and cannot be captured by standard (often referred to as "throwaway") air filters. These minute particles, if not trapped, can slip by your body's defenses and get lodged in your lungs.

The Role of Home Comfort Systems In Improving Indoor Air Quality
Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) is one of the best tools in providing good indoor air quality. It can provide a major portion of the ventilation for your home. Signs of poor ventilation include moisture condensation on windows or walls and smelly or stuffy air. In other words, if on Thursday you can still smell the fish you cooked on Sunday, you might have a ventilation problem.

This is an important reason why you should have your home comfort system inspected regularly by a qualified service technician. That way, you'll know your equipment is functioning properly. When you are working to improve indoor air quality, it's important to consult your HVAC dealer to make sure your home comfort system is designed properly as a complete and compatible system. It's not always as simple as adding another component.

Lennox offers a wide variety of indoor air quality products designed to help you solve these problems.