How Indoor Carpets Impact Indoor Air Quality

Wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs can certainly make a home feel cozier and comfortable underfoot. However, carpets can have a surprising effect on your indoor air quality. In fact, carpets and rugs are potential breeding grounds for a variety of indoor pollutants. It is important to clean carpets regularly and have your HVAC equipment maintained routinely to minimize poor indoor air quality. Read on to learn how carpeting can affect your home’s indoor air quality in Solon, OH.

Pollutants in Carpets

Sometimes, it’s hard to see what’s in the fibers of your carpet. Those tiny piles and loops are the perfect hiding places for all sorts of debris. Not only do inert particles cling to the fibers, but some living organisms can grow in and on carpets. This is some of what can hide and even live in your carpets:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
• Dirt and dust
• Pet dander
• Pollen
• Food particles
• Moisture
• Dust mites, fleas, and bed bugs
• Bacteria
• Mold and fungi

Every time you walk or play on your carpet, these irritants can become airborne and will negatively impact indoor air quality. This can result in allergies and respiratory infections.

Caring for Your Carpets

The first line of defense for ridding your carpets of irritants is vacuuming regularly with a machine fitted with a HEPA filter. The filter helps to ensure that the debris is not released back into the air. You should also have your carpets professionally cleaned once or twice a year. In Ohio, it makes sense to clean your carpets seasonally to remove outdoor matter that is tracked inside.

Maintaining HVAC Systems and IAQ Testing

While vacuuming and carpet cleaning will help with improving indoor air quality, maintaining your HVAC equipment is as important. The tiny particles that are released into the air from your carpets are captured by your return air ducts and recirculated into the home by supply ducts.

KW Lang Mechanical recommends that you have your heating and air-conditioning units cleaned and serviced at least one time per year. We will perform tune-ups, cleanings, filter replacements, and repairs. Our technicians are also able to perform indoor air quality (IAQ) testing. If we find that the IAQ is not healthy or the ducts have a buildup of pollutants and bacteria, a whole-house duct cleaning may be recommended.

Contact KW Lang Mechanical for IAQ in Solon

To learn more about our HVAC and IAQ testing services in the Solon area, contact KW Lang Mechanical today.