3 Bad IAQ Habits in Estes Park, CO Homes

Colorado is a popular haven for those who love the great outdoors. Even in our larger cities, a breath of fresh air waits just beyond your front door. But the following three bad habits can cause your Estes Park, CO, home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) to suffer.

1. Waiting Too Long to Replace Air Filter

Dirty HVAC filters are one of the most common factors that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Most manufacturers recommend replacing your air filters every three months. But other factors, like the ones below, might clog up your filters faster and force you to change them more frequently.

2. Smoking Inside the Home

Another bad habit that hurts your IAQ is smoking indoors. The walls, the floors, the furniture, and all your clothes and household items absorb all those odors from cigarette smoke. You can often tell the instant you walk into the home of someone who smokes inside because the air has a particular odor.

It was common for past generations to smoke indoors, but recent trends show that more Americans are choosing to smoke outdoors — even at home. A recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 46% of U.S. homes occupied by smokers voluntarily ban smoking indoors. That is a huge change from the mere 10% of homes with smoke-free rules back in 1993.

3. Procrastinating on Household Chores

When you have a large family and indoor pets, it takes a lot of effort to keep the whole house clean. Failure to maintain a tight house cleaning schedule negatively impacts IAQ. All of the following contribute to household odors and air pollution:

• Piles of dirty clothes and unwashed pet bedding
• Uneaten food and trash left out in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms
• Carpets that aren’t vacuumed or shampooed regularly
• Dust, chemicals, pet dander and pollen in the air
• Uncleaned HVAC ducts with years of dust accumulating inside

Don’t let the indoor air quality in your home suffer due to bad habits like the ones above. Keep your home in good shape to prevent household odors and indoor air pollution. And if you’re interested in duct cleaning and other ways to improve your IAQ, contact us at Leatherneck Heating and Cooling, LLC today.

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