Improve home ventilation by increasing airflow, filtering the existing air, and bringing in the fresh air. This can help reduce airborne particles and promote a healthier living environment for you and your household. Even if you’re unaware of any respiratory illnesses among your household or visitors, improving ventilation can be a proactive measure to prevent the spread of viruses and other airborne contaminants.
Below are some methods you can use to enhance the ventilation within your home. Employing multiple techniques such as opening windows, utilizing air filters, and activating fans, can expedite the elimination of viral particles from your indoor environment. You can further reduce the concentration of these particles by maintaining ventilation for an additional hour after a visitor has departed, for instance.
Maximize the influx of fresh air into your household
To prevent the accumulation of viral particles within your living space, it is recommended to introduce fresh outdoor air into your home whenever feasible.
If it is safe to do so, you may consider opening doors and windows as wide as possible to facilitate the inflow of fresh air.
Even if you’re unable to open them entirely, a slight crack can still be beneficial.
Opening multiple windows and doors can further increase the airflow into your home. However, it’s crucial to prioritize safety and refrain from opening doors and windows if doing so poses a risk to you or others, such as young children or pets in your household, individuals with respiratory conditions, or in areas with poor air quality. In such cases, you may opt for alternative methods such as using air filtration systems or exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen to reduce the concentration of viral particles.
Additionally, fans can be utilized to direct viral particles from the indoor environment to the outside. It’s important to exercise caution when using fans around young children and avoid leaving them unattended.
Filter the air within your household through filtration methods
If your residence has a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) equipped with air ducts and filters, you may implement the following steps to capture viral particles:
If your household’s HVAC system features a thermostat-controlled fan operation, it is advisable to activate the “on” position instead of “auto” when receiving visitors. This will ensure that the fan runs continuously, even if the heating or air conditioning is not in use. To enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system in capturing viral particles:
1. Consider using pleated filters, which are more effective than regular furnace filters and can be purchased at hardware stores.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing the filter yourself, or seek assistance from a professional.
3. Ensure that the filter is correctly installed as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.
It’s recommended to replace the filter every three months or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ideally, hire a professional to inspect and optimize your ventilation system annually to ensure that it operates at peak efficiency.
Portable Air Cleaners Are Amond Your Options
If you lack an HVAC system or if you want to enhance the filtration efficiency of your existing system, a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner can be utilized for this purpose. HEPA filters are the most effective filters currently available in the market to capture particles that individuals exhale when speaking, singing, coughing, sneezing, or breathing.
Turn On Your Exhaust Fan in the Kitchen and Bathroom to Improve Home Ventilation
To improve home ventilation, it’s advisable to utilize exhaust fans located above your stovetop and in your bathroom that vent to the outside. Even though some stove exhaust fans may not direct air outside, they can still enhance air circulation and prevent the concentration of viral particles in a single area.
Ensure that the exhaust fan above your stovetop and in your bathroom remains activated when visitors are present in your household. For an hour following the departure of your visitors, keep the exhaust fans turned on to eliminate any lingering viral particles in the air.
Use Fans to Improve Home Ventilation and Flow
Positioning a fan in close proximity to an open window, facing the outside, can assist in directing air outwards and expelling viral particles from your home. Additionally, even in the absence of an open window, utilizing fans can enhance air circulation.
It’s crucial to avoid directing fans toward individuals, as doing so can result in the blowing of contaminated air toward them.
To improve air ventilation in your home, ceiling fans can be utilized regardless of whether or not windows are open.