Observing the air quality is important when we spend a lot of time inside our homes. Since the human body benefits from breathing in fresh air, we want to ensure the indoor air quality is as safe and clean as possible. When the air quality is poor, there could be a lot of dust, allergens, and bacteria passing through your home. This may lead to a myriad of health problems in the long term, especially among those with respiratory conditions.

Fortunately, there are many natural ways to purify the air in your home. You just need to make a couple of simple adjustments that will increase the overall indoor air quality. Once you have adapted to these changes, the air quality should improve and you will start breathing in fresher, purer air inside the house.

Here are the ten best ways to purify the air in your home:

1. HVAC maintenance

The HVAC system sets the primary foundation of the indoor air quality inside every home. When the HVAC units are properly maintained, they ensure that clean air is regulated throughout the home at maximum efficiency. A faulty HVAC system will have the opposite effect, causing inefficiencies that may obstruct the circulation of clean air in your home. For the best indoor air quality, you should schedule regular appointments for HVAC inspections.

2. HEPA filters

Commonly referred to as HEPA filters, High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters are an excellent way to help purify the air in your home, especially if you are an allergy sufferer. HEPA filters are able to remove more than 99% of all airborne pollutants 0.3 microns or larger. They are capable of killing airborne germs and particles that can trigger allergy symptoms.

If you’re wondering how you can incorporate HEPA filters into your home, these could be found in some air purifiers, HVAC systems, and vacuum cleaners.

3. UV lights

Another way to purify the air in your home is with the use of UV lights. You can choose to have an ultraviolet light installed in your HVAC system, which will help to kill microbes as they pass through the system. UV lights will kill growths in the air resulting from high humidity levels. They can be beneficial for allergy sufferers, as well as those living in hot, humid areas.

A UV light will kill bacteria and mould spores before they get blown into the system. Along with a UV light, you will still need to use a high-quality air filter for the best purifying results.

4. HRV and ERV

HRV and ERV, which stand for Heat Recovery Ventilator and Energy Recovery Ventilator, can both be beneficial for improving the air quality in your home. They were created to remove stale air from the home, while bringing in fresh air from outside.

If you live in a colder climate, the heat recovery ventilator (HRV) will retain heat inside the home, while bringing in fresh air. For those living in climates with hot humid summers, the Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) reduces the amount of moisture entering your home. And for those living in dryer climates, the ERV reduces the amount of moisture leaving your home.

5. High MERV filters

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, also known as MERV, is a measurement scale to report the effectiveness of air filters. The scale ranges from 1-16, and most residential HVAC systems will use air filters with a rating from 7-12.

Using a media cabinet with a high MERV filter is another great choice if you want to purify the air in your home. They are installed in the return duct of your forced air heating or cooling system. The media air cleaner can trap tiny particles including pollen, dust, and dander, making them a great choice for allergy sufferers.

6. Purify the air with essential oils

When used properly, essential oils can be one of the best natural ways to purify the air in your home. Some types of essential oils can help to fight bacteria, mould, fungi, and other nasty intruders that lower the indoor air quality. Tea tree oil and cinnamon oil are two of the most powerful essential oils with positive results.

To employ the essential oils, you will need an oil diffuser. This elegant device acts like a humidifier, dissipating an essential oil-laden steam within the room. Over time, the diffuser will help to purify the air in your home. Instead of a diffuser, you can also add a few drops of the essential oil into a bowl of warm water, letting it slowly evaporate into the room.

7. Use house plants to purify the air

Plants are an effective way to purify the air in your home. The best house plants are known for detoxifying the air, which can kill airborne germs in your household. Some popular house plants for air purification include the aloe vera, the weeping fig, the snake plant, and the ever-popular spider plant.

The spider plants are especially popular due to their low maintenance. These plants can also reproduce themselves, giving you extra plants that you can then hang throughout your home. For the best air purifying results from house plants, you should place a plant about every hundred square feet. While you do have to maintain these plants from time to time, their air purification benefits could last for many years to come.

8. Eliminate mould from your home

Mould releases harmful spores into the atmosphere of your home, which will severely impact the indoor air quality. These spores are detrimental to our health and can be a huge problem for those with respiratory problems.

You should conduct a diligent search for mould at least once a year. Mould can often be found in basements and bathrooms, appearing in the dark and damp spots where the spores grow unhindered. If you detect the presence of mould in your home, you should eliminate it with urgency.

9. Air out your new furniture

Chemicals can often be found in the most unsuspecting places, even within the new furniture that you bought for your bedroom or living room. Whether it is a new couch or a new chair, some furniture pieces are stuffed with volatile chemical compounds that will release into the air of your home. You don’t want these chemicals to foul the indoor air quality.

There are several ways to work around this problem. Firstly, you can place the furniture in the garage for a week to let the chemical compounds dissipate into the air. Secondly, you can place the furniture near a window to increase air circulation. Finally, you can buy from ecofriendly furniture manufacturers that minimize the use of harmful chemicals in their processes.

10. Use natural air purifiers in your home

There are many natural air purifiers with positive detoxifying effects on the indoor air quality of your home. One example is beeswax candles, which can eliminate the dust and toxins in the air. These candles are also smokeless, so they shouldn’t aggravate any respiratory problems as other candles might.

Another great natural air purifier is the Himalayan salt lamp. These pink-orange salt lamps work well as air purifiers, soaking up toxins and other pollutants to purify the air in your home. You can keep a salt lamp on your desk and another near your bedside table, which will improve the air quality as you work and sleep respectively. As an added bonus, these salt lamps will work whether they are switched on or not.

With the arrival of spring, there are many activities that we can do to prepare for the new season. One of the more practical activities is to get our HVAC systems ready for spring. Since you will need air conditioning when the temperature gets warmer, you want to make sure your HVAC system is in great condition.

It would be wise to schedule a seasonal maintenance appointment with a professional HVAC specialist, especially if your system is getting old. If you can’t remember the last time a contractor performed preventative HVAC maintenance, this is an indication that you need to make a new appointment. Maintenance will not only help you stay cool when the summer heat arrives, but it will also help you save money on energy bills and costly repairs.

In addition to scheduling a maintenance appointment, you should follow these eight helpful air conditioner and HVAC tips for spring:

Tip #1: Clean leaves and debris around the HVAC unit.

Spring is the perfect time to clean up the debris, dead leaves, and tree branches that have accumulated around the air conditioning unit. During the winter, you probably didn’t check up on the HVAC system when the outdoor temperature was so cold. As a result, your air conditioning system could have a lot of dirt and dust build-up over these past few months.

When your air conditioning unit is dirty and clogged, this could reduce the overall efficiency of the HVAC equipment. In some potential cases, this could even cause critical damages to your air conditioner. You should remember to clean up your AC unit at least a few times throughout the season. Due to the frequency of storms and strong winds during spring, a lot of debris can potentially infiltrate your air conditioning unit.

Tip #2: Be careful about vegetation that grows around the HVAC unit.

Gardening is a popular activity during the spring. As a gardener, an important HVAC tip is to be mindful of the vegetation that grows around your air conditioning unit. This includes any flowers, crops, bushes and small trees planted near the air conditioner. Make sure these plants do not touch the air conditioning system.

Ideally, the vegetation should not grow within two feet of the air conditioner. The AC unit needs to pull in air to cool down the home properly, so you don’t want the equipment to be obstructed by anything nearby. If this is a problem, it is recommended that you trim a few plants or relocate them elsewhere in your garden.

Tip #3: Replace the dirty air filters

The air filter in your HVAC system is intended to improve the air quality inside your home. The air filter works by trapping dust, pollen, and other allergens throughout your home. If the air filter is dirty, this means your air conditioner will not function as effectively as it should.

You should ideally check the air filter once a month. If you have a disposable filter, you can replace the dirty filter with a new one. If it’s a reusable filter, simply wash the filter and put it back into place.

Tip #4: Test the HVAC system.

Spring is an ideal season to test your HVAC system after a long period of inactivity. You want to make sure the system runs properly before the scorching summer temperatures arrive. During the testing phase, let the HVAC system run for an hour. Then, check if you notice anything unusual inside and outside of your home. If there are any issues, you still have plenty of time to schedule for an air conditioner repair before the summer season starts.

Tip #5: Install a new HVAC system.

When was the last time you bought a new HVAC system? If the purchase happened a long time ago, it may be time to consider upgrading your current HVAC system for this spring season. An old air conditioner could cost you more in maintenance and repair costs than the price of getting a new one installed. A new air conditioning system comes with many benefits, including reliability, energy efficiency, and a better overall performance.

Tip #6: Check the condition of your air ducts.

Another HVAC tip for spring is to inspect the air ducts around your home. The ducts may be clogged with dust and debris, which can decrease the efficiency of the HVAC system. You may also notice there are cracks or leaky joints in the ductwork. Call a professional HVAC contractor to assess the damage and find out what repairs need to be done.

Tip #7: Install a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat is a useful device that will make it easier to regulate the temperature inside your home. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat yet, it could be a good idea to have one installed during spring. There are many benefits of a programmable thermostat, including a feature to monitor the temperature when nobody is home.

If you already have a programmable thermostat, spring is the perfect time to review your settings. Based on your preferences, adjust the thermostat to ensure your home stays comfortable as the temperature increases.

Tip #8: Close your windows and doors when the AC is on.

Even before summer arrives, you may notice the temperature getting a lot warmer outside. If you don’t enjoy the sweltering heat, it may be necessary to turn on the air conditioner a bit earlier during the spring. When the air conditioning system is running, you should keep all the windows and doors closed. This prevents the hot and humid air from entering your home, which could be counterintuitive to the effectiveness of your HVAC system.