Working remotely in McKinney, Texas, gives telecommuters greater flexibility in their lives, but also comes with unexpected challenges, such as managing indoor air quality (IAQ). In a managed office space, a building contractor takes responsibility, but telecommuters need to manage their workplace IAQ themselves.
Wherever you work, many common factors lead to poor IAQ. Indoor air pollutants include mold, bacteria, pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and harmful fumes. Once these products build up in your workplace, you may suffer allergic reactions such as irritated eyes, sore throat, congestion, headaches, or dizziness.
To avoid allergic reactions, telecommuters can improve their home indoor air quality by performing home keeping tasks, such as maintaining your air conditioner and controlling humidity.
Maintain Your Air Conditioner
When working from home, an air conditioner is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can use to improve your home’s IAQ. A well-maintained air conditioner controls your workplace temperature, reduces moisture buildup, and filters airborne allergens. Keeping your air conditioner maintained also helps improve IAQ.
Change or clean your air conditioner filter at least once a month. If you have pets in your home, consider checking the filter more often, as pet hair can build up and clog your air filter. Investing in a professional maintenance plan ensures your hard-working workplace air conditioner receives the regular attention it deserves.
Control Office Humidity
With IAQ, targeting the ideal indoor humidity is essential for your health. If your heating system causes the air in your home to dry out, the dry air can cause coughs, nosebleeds, and irritated skin. When the air inside your home is too damp, however, mold and mildew start to grow, which can cause respiratory problems.
If your home’s HVAC system doesn’t control humidity, you can use a standalone unit or invest in a whole-home dehumidifier integrated with your HVAC system. For healthy IAQ, keep indoor humidity below 50 percent during more humid months, and during the low-humidity months, maintain a humidity above 30 percent.
Sterilize Your Air
Telecommuters who spend all day at the home office may consider adding an ultraviolet (UV) lamp to their HVAC systems. Inside your HVAC unit, a drain pan catches moisture buildup where bacteria and mold can grow.
When installed inside your HVAC unit, a special UV lamp kills any bacteria and mold that grow in the moist environment. Installing a UV light is a easy way to improve your home’s IAQ.
Plan Home Decor Updates
A no-cost way to maintain a healthy level of IAQ is to keep the airborne pollutants out. Everyday decor products can off-gas fumes, making the air in your home hard to breathe. New carpets, rugs, curtains, upholstery, and paint all produce fumes that affect IAQ.
If you’re redesigning your home workspace, look for products with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are less irritating. Also, plan your redecorating for times when you won’t be working and breathing the fumes, such as over a weekend, for example. Given time, the fumes should dissipate, allowing you to enjoy your new purchases without negatively affecting your home’s IAQ.
Ensure Sufficient Ventilation
Over time, inside air can become stagnant and polluted by allergens and fumes that your air conditioner can’t filter from the air. Make sure your indoor work environment gets enough fresh air. A low-tech approach to increasing fresh air in your workplace is simply to open a window. However, opening a window when the temperatures are hot or cold outside will affect your indoor temperature.
For a modern solution for stale air, install an energy recovery ventilator. This device works year-round to reduce energy loss while bringing fresh air into your home. Energy recovery ventilators are especially well-suited for hot and humid summers. Ask your HVAC professional if a ventilator is a right solution for your home.
At Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we’ve proudly served McKinney, Texas, and surrounding areas for more than 30 years. Our team is happy to help you in your telecommuting role. Call us at 888-414-4655 to learn more ways to improve your home’s IAQ and discover new HVAC system installation options for your home workplace.
