How To Combat Bad Air Quality In California

With the recurrence of wildfires and traffic pollution, California isn’t known for the best quality of air. Worse, as more and more homes are built with improved, airtight insulation, your indoor air quality can actually have a higher amount of contaminants in circulation.

The good news is that there are some ways that California residents can combat the bad air quality in their homes, including:

In the blog, we’ll take a look at these tips in more detail, so you can get a better idea of how to improve the air quality of your California home.

Not only do clean air filters help to keep your HVAC system operating as efficiently as possible, they’re also your first line of defense against unhealthy air contaminants circulating throughout your home.

Whether you’re concerned about inhaling wildfire smoke, vehicle emissions, or common household allergens such as pet dander, hair, dust, odors, and more, installing or replacing your air filters will help your family breathe cleaner quality air.

There’s a wide range of air filters on the market, but HEPA filters are by far the most advanced option you can install. Standing for “high-efficiency particulate absorbing,” HEPA filters can trap up to 99.7% of all indoor air pollutants. This includes larger particles like dust and hair, but also microscopic particles such as bacteria, mold, and even viruses.

Standard air filters often need to be replaced about three months or so, while more advanced filters (such as HEPA filters) only need to be replaced about once a year. Depending on your air quality concerns and budget, the experts at True Home can help you choose the right air filter for your home’s HVAC system.

With newer construction methods allowing for California homes to be increasingly energy-efficient and airtight, an unintended consequence is how they can actually trap more airborne particles inside them.

For this reason, in addition to installing or replacing air filters, you should also have your air ducts inspected and cleaned regularly. Why? Because your air ducts are how the air gets circulated in your home, and if you have a buildup of dust, mold, pollen, or other common contaminants, you could be breathing in severely poor air— and not even know it.

At True Home Heating and Air Conditioning, our NATE-certified HVAC technicians will get your home’s air ducts cleaned to pristine condition. This way you can rest easy knowing that there aren’t any pollutants spreading throughout your home.

While it may seem counterintuitive, opening up your windows for just a few minutes every day will help you combat bad air quality in California. Essentially, it’s important to let your home “breathe” by letting in fresh air and sending musty air out.

According to the EPA, proper ventilation can actually dilute your indoor air contaminants.

And with clean air filters installed, your HVAC system will be able to trap any pollutants that may come in through the outside air.

The best way to improve your California home’s air quality is with an air purification system that will remove harmful pollutants from your home’s air.

Installing a UV lamp in tandem with your HVAC system is an excellent option for killing toxic bacterial growth before it has a chance to spread. These work particularly well for eliminating mold spores that can frequently happen during the summer months (all the more if you live near the beach and frequently experience the marine layer).

Another great option is an ionic air purifier, which emits charged ions to bond with air pollutants, causing them to gain weight and then fall into a collection plate. Some can even dissolve toxic pollutants, eliminating them from your air completely. Depending on your budget, there are a number of ionic air purifiers on the market, including portable and whole-home versions.

Lastly, many California residents find that a dehumidifier works well to purify their indoor air quality. With less moisture in the air, you can prevent mold growth and limit dust mites from growing. During summer wildfires when your doors and windows are shut, a dehumidifier will ensure that your humidity levels stay balanced, and your home feels less stuffy.