Make Indoor Air Part of Your Spring Cleaning
Believe it or not, spring cleaning has been around for centuries in some parts of the world, though not all cultures call it that. In Iran, for example, the cleaning is considered part of the preparations for Nowruz, the Persian new year. In western culture, spring cleaning came about because it was the perfect time to clean off all the grime left behind by the snow before bug season started.
Today, with the popularity of home improvement programming, like Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, spring cleaning has become a cultural phenomenon all over again. Will you be participating this year? If you do, make sure to also focus on cleaning your air, as well as the surfaces in your house.
Why do Spring Cleaning?
Doing one big, thorough cleaning each year can help you stay on track with your regular cleaning throughout the year. If your home starts off clean, it makes it a lot easier to keep it clean.
The same could be true about your HVAC system. Make it a point to clean your air as well as your home surfaces this spring, and you’ll find that maintaining better air quality throughout the year is much easier.
What can you do to “spring clean” your air? Well, you could start by changing the air filter. Keep changing it once a month in the spring, and then no less than every three months throughout the rest of the year.
Improving Your Indoor Air Quality
Now, let's not get too ahead of ourselves. Before we start talking about improving your air quality, do you even know what kind of air quality you have in your home?
Do you need to worry about cleaning it up, or is your air quality already pretty high? You can check this by purchasing your own air quality monitor for anywhere between $150 and $250.
You can also install carbon monoxide monitors and perform at home radon test to ensure that there aren't any deadly fumed in your home.
Is it Time For a Spring Tune-Up Too?
The answer to this question is "YES!" While there's no rule that says you have to have your HVAC system tuned-up during the spring, specifically, it couldn't hurt.
It may also be helpful to schedule routine maintenance at the same time you are busy cleaning your home so that you don't forget it each year.
Remember that HVAC cleanings and tune-ups should happen twice a year, so you should also schedule one in the fall.
One more tip for keeping your indoor air clean all season long is this: If you have ceiling fans. Don’t forget to dust them occasionally, or you could be sending dust raining down on your house every time you turn it on.
For more information about how you can keep your air clean, and for help with more serious HVAC problems, call Minnesota Plumbing & Heating at (952) 445-4444 in Bloomington, MN.