3 Tips to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Looking for ways to improve the air quality in your home? Not sure where to begin?

When you’re cleaning your house, it’s easy to tell when your kitchen counters and bathroom sink are clean, not so much when you’re talking about the air. But that doesn’t mean the air quality in your home should be neglected! IAQ can be a crucial element to maintaining the comfort level of your home.

Below are three tips to significantly improve the indoor air quality of your home fast!

1.      Avoid Chemicals

When cleaning surfaces or freshening the air in your home, avoid harsh chemicals as much as possible. Some of the standard products we’re accustomed to using to clean household surfaces are incredibly toxic and should only be used if completely necessary. Vinegar and baking soda solutions are a great alternative to many cleaning products and don’t pollute your air. Essential oils are better for air freshening than many commercial chemical products.

2.      Keep It Clean and Dry

Regularly cleaning your home and making sure it stays relatively dry will cut down on the potential for indoor allergens like mold and dust mites. Upgrading your vacuum to one with a HEPA filter will help you purge your fabrics of many allergens. Don’t forget to vacuum surfaces like couches and drapes. Wash your sheets and pillows frequently to get rid of allergens. Make sure your kitchen and bathroom are ventilated well to get rid of moisture and deter mold. If your basement or other rooms tend to be moist, you may also want to invest in a dehumidifier.

3.      Encourage Ventilation

Promote ventilation in your home to avoid staleness, stuffiness, and pockets of hot or cold air. Good ventilation complements your other efforts of keeping your house clean and dry and avoiding chemicals. To assure good ventilation, perform maintenance tasks on your HVAC system such as cleaning vents, ducts, and blowers. When outdoor air quality is good, you should also try to open windows to circulate air. Ceiling fans can also be useful for ventilation.

 
Our three tips for improved indoor air quality are simple and easy to remember, but they do cover a lot of ground. If you have any questions about IAQ and how to make it better in your home, give us a call! We are here to help with all your HVAC needs from furnace inspection to air conditioning repair in Ann Arbor. Contact us today!

Maximize the ROI on Your New Air Conditioner!

Have you recently installed a new air conditioner in your home?

Are you planning to install a new AC unit in your home?

Wondering how to get the most return on your investment?

You need our 10 strategies for maximizing the return on investment (ROI) on your new AC!
The strategies fall into two basic categories: take care of the unit and use it only when necessary. We won’t ask you to do anything crazy like service your HVAC every quarter or suffer through 90 degree weather without air conditioning, but these tips should help your AC unit last and operate at its highest efficiency, maximizing your ROI.

1. Open windows at night when temperatures drop to a comfortable level. If you’re experiencing 80s during the day and 60s at night, there’s no need to leave your AC running while you sleep!
2. Close shades in the morning to prevent the sun from heating up your house. Some quality insulating shades or drapes will really help keep the heat out of the house and allow your AC unit more downtime.  
3. Perform an annual AC tune-up by carefully removing the cover and cleaning the fins, interior, and fan blades. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, call the pros!
4. Clean evaporator and condenser coils to maintain your unit’s efficiency.
5. Clean the HVAC blower components to make your AC up to 15% more efficient.
6. Change your HVAC filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
7. Make sure your ducts are sealed to boost your AC efficiency by 20%.
8. Cover the unit in the winter to protect it from the elements. A tarp weighted with a couple heavy rocks or bricks can do the job just fine!
9. Clean HVAC drains with a bleach solution, 1 part bleach to 16 parts water.  
10. Call us at CMR Mechanical for service, maintenance, or an air conditioning repair in Ann Arbor.

Schedule an Air Conditioning Repair in Ann Arbor Today!

Following these 10 strategies will keep your new AC unit running at high efficiency, saving you money! If you have any questions about your new AC unit or other components of your HVAC system, give us a call today.

If you'd like a free in-home evaluation of your existing system during an air conditioning repair for your Ann Arbor home, or any other professional advice about heating and cooling please feel free to contact us at info@cmrmechanical.com or call (734) 424-9555. CMR Mechanical prides itself on honest, quality service!