A constant supply of fresh air in your home is essential to healthy living, not to mention disease-free existence. Here are some of the ways in which you can implement home improvement ideas to enhance the quality of air in your home without substantial investment.

A simple and obvious method is to air out your home every once in a while. This not only allows fresh air to enter and replace the stale and stagnant air pockets in your home, but can also get rid of airborne pollutants that cause disease and discomfort, such as volatile organic suspensions that cause allergies and asthma. Pollutants of this type can also cause the rooms to heat up more than usual, and may create a humid environment.

If you already have a circulation mechanism installed or an air purification unit like an air-conditioner make sure to have it checked periodically for contaminants, and do clean out the filters on a regular basis. Depending on the general air quality in your neighbourhood, this might need to be done more frequently: for example, if you’re in the city, then once every two weeks might be required, or even more often. Play it by ear, or nose as the case may be.

Apart from these simple methods like periodic airing and filter-cleaning, there is also an active method you can use to regularly replenish your fresh air supply. Of the home improvement ideas to enhance air quality in your home, this active method does a better job.

First, choose a time when the temperature is above zero. Turn off any heat source such as fireplaces, and shut any flues. Place a portable fan near a window in the first room. Clean the room thoroughly while wearing protection for your nose and mouth. Once the room is clean, open the window with the fan and another window for cross ventilation. If there’s only one window, that’s fine – use it. Now leave the fan on with that window open; go to another room and open a window, and come back to close the window in the first room that doesn’t have the fan. Leave the fan running, and keep doing this with each window in the house until the last two windows are open – the one with the fan and the one is the last room where you’re doing this. Now turn off the fan and close that window, and also close the window in the last room. You have now replaced all the stale air in your home with fresh air. You may not be able to feel the difference, but someone walking in as soon as you’ve finished should.

Some more home improvement tips to enhance the air quality in your home are the avoidance of volatile organic compound emitters, such as varnished wooden furniture or vinyl accessories such as shower curtains, the use of organic cleaners like lemon, vinegar and baking soda and smoking outside as a rule.

Now when you want a breath of fresh air, you can do it in the clean comfort of your own home.