Easy Ways to Improve Your Des Moines Home's Indoor Air Quality

April 9, 2015

Pollutants found outdoors easily find their way indoors in several ways. Modern homes are built to be airtight, so undesirable particulates build up and poor indoor air quality can happen quickly. Fortunately, you can control pollutants by using the five methods described below.

Add House Plants

Buy plants that flourish indoors. Through their natural "breathing" processes, plants remove pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.

Install Exhaust Ventilation 

Install exhaust ventilation in the bathroom or over the range hood, where excess moisture may build from showering or cooking. If you're not ready to take this step, open the window during these activities and use a fan to exhaust moisture to the outdoors.

Try a Dehumidifer

While humidity may not be seen as a pollutant, too much of it can promote mold and dust mites. Small, portable dehumidifiers may help with problem spots such as a bathroom with excessive moisture, but for best results, have a whole-house dehumidifier installed.

Upgrade Your Air Filter

If you've been using an inexpensive fiberglass filter, upgrade to a better quality, pleated filter that will catch more pollutants as air is drawn into the system. Better filters prevent pollutants such as pet dander, pollen, dust mites, mold spores and dust from being circulated back into your home's air. Consider electrostatic or electronic types, which use an electrical charge to create static energy and attract pollutants. They cost more but are reusable.

Control at the Source 

Request family members and guests take off their shoes before entering the home, and if you have allergy sufferers, ask everyone to brush off pollen before coming inside. Vacuum floors and furniture surfaces with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and wash linens in hot water to kill dust mites. Air out dry cleaning and purchases that might off-gas VOCs before you bring them in the home.

For more on improving your indoor air quality, contact Lozier Heating and Cooling of Des Moines. We've been providing outstanding service since 1906. Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: "Palo_ok/Shutterstock"