Helpful indoor air quality tips that’ll help your customers breathe fresher, healthier air
January 2020 • 3 min read
As winter brings white picturesque imagery of snow blanketed landscapes, cold, and fun activities, it also drives folks indoors to stay warm and avoid sickness. Unfortunately, staying shut up indoors can also harbor germs, stale air, mold spores, second-hand smoke, dust mites, stuffiness, allergens, pet dander, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and dust — all leading to possible respiratory problems, allergies, prolonged sickness or multiple trips to doctors.Here are some tips, preventative measures, and products to help your customers achieve better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) so they can breathe fresher, healthier air.
Consider cleaning your air ducts
Professionally cleaning the ductwork can help the overall performance of your customer’s system as well as removing dust and irritants, especially those hard to reach areas that can help remove debris from circulating throughout the home. Homeowners should do some research regarding ductwork cleaning before hiring a company. Some companies use biocide, a chemical used to clean the inside of the ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold).
Some companies may also propose to use a sealant to prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. Research has not validated these chemicals are effective in duct cleaning or whether there are potential adverse health effects. Another issue to consider is some ducts have insulation and when they get wet or moldy, they cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
Replacing air filters can help reduce dust and allergens
Changing air filters regularly can help to ensure dust and other airborne irritants get trapped inside the filter instead of being recirculated throughout the home. Filters not only help to improve the quality of your customer’s home they also keep the system performing at peak efficiency. Lennox offers a wide variety of filtration products, including high-performance air cleaners such as the Carbon Clean 16 media air cleaner. The filter is the #1 rated, professionally installed, whole-home filter as rated by a leading consumer magazine.
Air purification and filtration systems
If homeowners are looking to improve the air throughout their entire home and not just in individual rooms, they can integrate Lennox Healthy Climate air purification system with their existing system.
The PureAirTM air purification system improves the air throughout the homeowner’s entire home combating against allergy-aggravating particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander, mold and germs that grow and reproduce in damp places, such as basements and crawlspaces.
PureAirTM also works against odors and chemical vapors from paints, cleaning supplies and additives used in carpeting and furniture. The PureAirTM air purification system reduces indoor air pollutant levels through a combination of hospital-grade filtration and a contaminate destruction process called photocatalytic oxidation (PCO).
A little extra housekeeping
Something else you can recommend to homeowners is deep cleaning the house regularly in the winter months to help cut down on dust, pet dander, and mold. Vacuuming the carpets and area rugs at least once or twice a week can help reduce allergens in the home. Also, regularly washing bedding, drapes and other items that attract dust, absorb cooking odors, and pet dander will help to control dust and make the air fresher.
When the winter months force homeowners indoors, make sure they’re taking a few measures to help keep their air fresh and allergen-free. By recommending some simple fixes, you can help homeowners breathe better, fresher air.