Your body needs air in order to survive, and the quality of your life can be greatly affected by the air you breathe on a daily basis. Though you may not notice how good or bad your home’s air circulation is until you start feeling ill, taking simple steps to improve air circulation in your home will help keep your energy levels high, your allergies at bay, and your overall health in tip-top shape.
Read on to learn more about five ways to improve air circulation in your home.
1. Open the windows
Sure, it’s tempting to crack open a window for an instant cool down during those hot summer months. But think about it: In order for that cool air to get inside, warm air needs to escape and fast.
Not only does your home become stuffy and uncomfortable, but you’re also using up all of your cooling power just trying to make up for lost heat.
Instead of turning on your AC unit, try opening windows for 10-minute bursts or go outside and enjoy a few minutes of fresh air instead! Not only will you save on energy costs, but you’ll be better equipped at fighting indoor pollutants like pet dander and dust mites too.
2. Clean your air filters
The air filter is one of your home’s main defenses against airborne particles that might make it inside. Cleaning them regularly can improve circulation and make a big difference in keeping your indoor air clean and healthy.
As a general rule, it’s wise to clean filters every couple of months, depending on how often you use your home’s heating and cooling system. If you have pets or another contributing factor like carpets, you should probably clean them more often especially if you live somewhere like Las Vegas, where dust storms are a frequent occurrence.
In addition to improving air quality with regular maintenance, cleaning up filters will also cut down on electricity costs by ensuring they aren’t blocked from working effectively.
3. Get new plants
A plant or two adds oxygen to your home, a welcome improvement over stale air. Or get an air purifier: There are many different types of air purifiers available; some draw polluted air through a filter, while others filter and clean air that passes through them.
Some are even equipped with germ-killing UV lights! The best way to know which one is right for you is to make a list of what’s important price, location, and type of filtration, and then do some research.
4. Replace carpets with hardwood or laminate flooring
As we know, carpets retain dust, dander, and allergens which are released into your air. By installing hardwood or laminate flooring, you can prevent these things from building up.
Additionally, hardwood floors will increase the value of your home should you choose to sell it in the future. Carpets do not have a long shelf life so if you are tired of them consider replacing them with new hardwood flooring today.
5. Go for heat instead of A/C
If you’re trying to regulate your temperature at home, a space heater might be more efficient than turning on your air conditioner.
Heat naturally rises, so by directing a small space heater toward one side of a room, you’ll help create an invisible wind current that can circulate cool air around your whole house.
As an added bonus, you won’t have to worry about heat affecting your electronics or furniture as A/C would. If it starts feeling too hot for comfort, just turn off or move around your heater.
