There’s a lot to like about winter, but the cold weather brings with it more than a few worries for the average homeowner, including poor indoor air quality. While some might already know that the quality of the air found indoors can be worse than the air you breathe outside, many don’t realize that the winter season exacerbates this problem. 
How Winter Affects Indoor Air Quality
According to the home energy audit professionals at BPP, poor indoor air quality in the winter has a lot to do with homes being made more airtight during this season. Keeping the cold out and indoor heat in are top priorities during the winter season to ensure comfort and energy efficiency, but this also means almost no fresh air is coming into the house. This gives bacteria, mold spores, viruses, dust mites and other contaminants a chance to accumulate, resulting in a breathing environment that’s unhealthy.
What to Do
When you can’t open a window to let in fresh air, you have to rely on your HVAC system’s filters to clean the air inside your home. Typically, air filters should be replaced every 30 to 60 days, and possibly more often if you have pets. Air filters are critical to maintaining good indoor air quality, as they catch not only dust and dirt but bacteria, viruses and other airborne contaminants as well.
You should also avoid smoking indoors, keep humidity levels in check and install carbon monoxide detectors for your safety and protection. For more indoor air quality solutions and home efficiency services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a trusted HVAC contractor in your area.
BPP draws on nearly 50 years of experience to ensure safety and efficiency in every home, offering a broad range of products and services to exactly address your needs. With our hard work and commitment to quality, we’re now one of the top HVAC and home efficiency companies in the region, providing our customers with solutions they can depend on for years. To learn more about what we can do for you, just give us a call at (925) 256-1092 or fill out our contact form. Ask us for a quote today!
