Referral Network
Tucson Arizona Indoor Air Quality
When it comes to the air quality inside your home you have two options: Let your lungs be the filter or allow your air conditioning unit to be the filter. If you would rather your air conditioning filter the air in your home, beware: Many marketers offer second-rate products, claiming they will purify your air for little money or effort. We are strong believers in air quality, especially in our homes where we live, sleep and breathe so many hours of the day. But we are not supporters of trying cheap tricks that can wind up costing a lot of money for little benefit. So we have put together a number of resources for homeowners about the differences between the right way and the wrong way to clean the air inside your home.
Should I clean my air conditioner ducts?
Rosie’s short answer: No! For most people, duct cleaning has no benefit. It doesn’t make your air conditioner work better, and it doesn’t reduce the dust in your house. It costs several hundred dollars, and it’s usually a big waste of money. What you might consider instead is a thorough cleaning of your air conditioning system. Read full FAQWhich air conditioner filter is best for my home?
Selecting the proper air filter is key to cleaning the air that circulates in your home. For most homes, Rosie recommends a $4 to $5 pleated air filter, which should be replaced every month. From worst to best... Read full FAQHow often should I change my air conditioning filter?
Change it every month. A tip: Every time you pay your electric bill, change your air conditioning filter. The manufacturer’s instructions might tell you it’s OK to wait two or even three months before changing your filter. Read full FAQHow can I clean the air in my home?
If you think breathing the hot summer air is bad for you, consider this: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the quality of indoor air can be up to five times worse. Read full FAQSee full lists of FAQs
Jane (7:36 into segment) how can I get rid of an odor that have been coming out of my kitchen kink for over a year?
Jane (beginning of segment) continued...
March 14th, 2009
Doug (4:10 into segment) there is an odor in my home I cannot pinpoint that I would like to eliminate. How do I track it down? November 8th, 2008
Guest Interview (2:17 into segment) Jeff May author of Health Home Tips: A Workbook for Detecting, Diagnosing, and Eliminating Pesky Pests, Stinky Stenches, Musty Mold, and Other Aggravating Home Problems July 5th, 2008
Radio show archives and show times.
Clean indoor air, breathe more easily
If you think breathing the hot summer air is bad for you, consider this: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the quality of indoor air can be up to five times worse.Luckily, you can improve the quality of your home’s air, a move that will help your family breathe easier, especially if anyone has allergies or asthma.
First thing’s first: Replace your air conditioner’s filter. If you’re like 85 percent of Americans, you’re relying on a cheap, spun-fiberglass filter to trap dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, mold spores and bacteria so it won’t get into your air conditioning system and fly around in the air your family breathes.
It’s not working.
Upgrade to a one-inch, pleated air filter that costs around $5. It looks like cloth on the outside, but the pleats contain fibers that catch at least some of the allergy-causing smoke and dust before your air conditioning system can suck it in and recirculate it. At the same time, the pleated filter allows enough air to get through so your system can operate properly.
Change it every month, even if the instructions on the package say you can use it for 90 days. Our dry, dusty air can clog a filter quicker than in the milder areas those directions were written for. A tip: Every time you pay your electric bill, change your filter.
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