How to Improve Indoor Air Quality Before Move-In

Clean Home, Clean Air: Moving into a new house

 means inheriting all the previous owner’s dirt and grime.

Sometimes, the contaminants left behind are not just unsightly, but they also pose a threat to your family’s health.

If you complete a move-in clean without addressing common problem areas, your home will look clean — but indoor air pollutants will still be lurking in the shadows, ready to trigger your family’s asthma and allergy symptoms.

Allergy and asthma sufferers have the greatest cause for concern when it comes to indoor air quality. However, even without lung issues, the quality of your air should be a concern.

According to American Home Shield, indoor air pollution can cause “allergic reactions, breathing problems, such as asthma, irritated eyes and throat, headaches, fatigue, and increased respiratory infections, among other symptoms.” If you want to avoid those symptoms, you need to address your new home’s indoor air quality before moving your family in. Here are the steps to do just that.

Change the Air Filter
Open up the return air intake and look at the air filter. Is it clean, or are you among the 89 percent of homeowners with a dusty air filter, the 40 percent sporting pet hair and dander, or the lucky 18 percent who find dead insects on their HVAC air filter?

Finding a dirty air filter in a newly purchased home isn’t uncommon. According to a survey by FilterBuy, one-quarter of US adults don’t change their home’s air filter regularly — and more than 26 million people have never changed it at all.

A clean air filter keeps your furnace working properly. It also cleans common household pollutants like smoke, dander, and toxic VOCs out of the air so your family can breathe easier. Install a new filter now and set a reminder to replace it every two to three months, or monthly if you have pets. If you want added cleaning power or a longer-lasting air filter, look into upgraded options like electrostatic or pleated air filters.

Test for Radon If you didn’t test for radon during your home inspection, do it now. Radon in homes is linked to lung cancer, but there’s no way to know this colorless, odorless gas is present without testing. To learn more about radon and find a radon testing professional, read the NIH’s guide to radon.

Dust Hard-to-Reach Places Dust is more than a nuisance — it’s the most widespread pollutant affecting your indoor air. If the top of the fridge, the chandelier, and ceiling fan blades are dust-free, you’re in good shape. But that doesn’t mean there’s not dust hiding in the places you can’t see.

Dust can work its way behind molding, onto the refrigerator vent, and into the furnace fan, where it affects your home’s air quality, increases the risk of fire, and shortens the life of expensive appliances. Grab a step ladder, a vacuum with a nozzle attachment, and microfiber cloths to eliminate dust from thesehidden spaces.

Deep Clean the Stove Heating up a dirty oven is a fast track to a smoky, foul-smelling home. Before cooking your first homemade meal, scrub down the oven, stove, and range hood to eliminate greasy build-up, charred food, and other stuck-on messes.

To bust through grime without exposing your family to toxic vapors, stick to natural cleaning products for this job and other household cleaning tasks. A paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will break down the toughest of stove top stains.

Make a Cleaning Schedule
The quality of your indoor air isn’t determined solely by the steps you take before moving in. If you don’t keep the house clean, it won’t be long before dust, dander, and mold accumulate and start affecting your breathing. Create a weekly cleaningschedule so you stay on top of chores like vacuuming, dusting, and washing bedding, curtains, and blinds.

These are the most important spots to clean for indoor air quality, but it’s probably not everything you’ll want to clean before moving in!

Once the prior owner has moved out, you’re bound to notice dirt and damage that you didn’t spot during showings. Work through your cleaning checklist so you move into a home that feels fresh, clean, and all yours.

If a sale is on your mind, Working with real estate professionals like Carriene Porter of Precision Realty & Assoc. LLC you’re guaranteed to get the expertise and advice you need. If your ready to see homes in person, give us a CALL 801-809-9866 today..

Not quite ready to buy a home?  You may qualify for the Lease with a Right to Purchase program.  Call me and I'll give you the details on how you may qualify to get into the home you want, get settled and then purchase it when you are ready!

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Article provided by Ray Flynn from DIYGuys.net.