Hello there. It’s that time of year that we have to think about closing up the house for the winter. I know, we aren’t ready for cold weather either. Here are some of the things I do around our home to get prepared and keep our indoor air quality healthy all season long.
Make sure crawl space and attic vent fans are in good working order. Keeping humidity under control prevents condensation and mold which can lead to allergies and asthma flare-ups, especially during the winter months when the windows remain shut.
To reduce cooking-related air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, use the range-hood fan each time you cook. Also, be sure to check the filter regularly.
If you have a chimney like we do, hire a chimney sweep to reduce airborne particulates and carbon monoxide emissions. Bonus tip, dampening fireplace ashes before sweeping them will help keep them from filling the air.
If you don’t already have one, think about installing a whole-house fan to keep the supply of fresh air flowing throughout your home.
Change your furnace filters monthly so they don’t become clogged. If this happens, your furnace will be forced to work harder and less efficiently. In the long run, it can also damage your equipment which could add up to some costly repairs.
So after writing this I can see my honey-do list have gotten longer, I better get started, winter will be here before we know it!
