Boost Your Indoor Air Quality When You Work From Home

Working from your Crawfordsville, Florida, home gives you new levels of freedom, but it also comes with a second set of responsibilities. You are your own boss, which means you’re responsible for maintaining your office and keeping your workspace clean, efficient, and healthy. Make sure you’re supporting healthy indoor air quality in your house, so you can breathe comfortably in your home office.

Watch for VOCs in Office Supplies

Many types of office supplies may off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can make you feel ill if you’re exposed to them for an extended period. Working from home, you may have several of these hazardous items in your house. VOCs can come from:

• Printers
• Copiers
• Carbonless copy paper
• Correction fluid
• Glues and adhesives
• Permanent markers
• Paints

Check product labels for terms like “low-VOC” or “no-VOC” for safer alternatives to standard products. Keep in mind that there is no national program to regulate these products, and labeling isn’t always accurate. Research your suppliers carefully to find out what’s in their products and whether they’re off-gassing VOCs in your home office. Avoid these as much as possible, or use them outside when you can.

Ventilate Your Office

Proper ventilation will help you release stale air from the home and draw fresh air in without reducing your energy efficiency. Most homeowners are now aware of the importance of sealing and insulating their homes. While these are great steps toward lower utility bills, don’t forget ventilation as well. A mechanical ventilator will filter air that’s coming in from outside and continuously circulate air, so you’re not breathing the same pollutants repeatedly.

Keep Things Clean and Green

When you work from home, you’re responsible for all your own cleaning and janitorial services. This gives you complete control over what products are used to keep your workspace pristine. Avoid those that have potentially hazardous chemicals among their ingredients. Green cleaning products are a much safer choice that will keep irritants out of the air.

You’ll find several green cleaning products available on store shelves. You can also make your own with simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, and essential oils. You don’t need harsh chemicals like bleach to get the job done. Gentler, more natural alternatives are just as effective when it comes to germs, and they have fewer side effects to complicate things.

Install an Air Cleaner in Your Home

Working from home, you’ll spend ample time in a single location. Make sure the air in that area is as clean and healthy as possible. An indoor air cleaner will go above and beyond your standard HVAC filter to capture a greater number of airborne irritants and indoor air pollutants.

Our Healthy Climate HEPA system provides hospital-grade filtration that will keep bacteria, viruses, and other hazards out of your air. If you have an auto-immune disorder or suffer from other ongoing health issues, this can help you avoid the many hazards in your home office. Other options like our Healthy Climate 11 Media Air Cleaner and Healthy Climate Carbon Clean 16 Media Air Cleaner boost filtration to capture a higher percentage of dust mites, pollen, dander, and other irritants.

Manage Maintenance Well

In a traditional office space, you have an office manager to take care of regular maintenance tasks. At home, however, it’s all up to you. Make sure you’re managing all the critical care and maintenance tasks required for healthy air.

You should schedule a maintenance visit for your HVAC system once a year to make sure everything is in good working order. Systems that are well-maintained enjoy better efficiency, fewer breakdowns, and a longer life span. You should also check your air filter monthly and change it when it’s dirty, or at least once every three months.

If you’re looking for healthy indoor air quality solutions to boost air quality in your home office, contact Advanced Air Care at 850-688-9265. We understand the importance of high IAQ, particularly when you’re working from home. From advanced filters to ventilation systems, we have the solutions you need.

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