5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Winter
Published October 27, 2025 | By Red Dragon Heating & Cooling, Gloversville, NY
When winter sets in across Gloversville, NY, homeowners seal their windows, crank up the heat, and settle in for the cold months ahead. But while this keeps you warm, it can also trap pollutants, allergens, and moisture insideāleading to stale, unhealthy indoor air.
At Red Dragon Heating & Cooling, we help Fulton County families breathe easier through expert HVAC maintenance, filtration upgrades, and indoor air quality solutions. Here are five proven ways to keep your homeās air clean and comfortable all winter long.
1. Upgrade Your HVAC Filtration System
Your furnace filter is your homeās first line of defense against airborne contaminants. During heavy heating months, replacing standard fiberglass filters with high-efficiency pleated filters (MERV 8ā13) makes a huge difference. These filters capture smaller particles like pet dander, pollen, and fine dust without restricting airflow.
If your family deals with allergies or asthma, consider a HEPA-grade filtration upgrade. These systems remove up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 micronsābut they should only be installed after a professional HVAC assessment to ensure proper compatibility.
š Learn more: See how professional duct sealing in Gloversville can further improve airflow and reduce pollutants entering your system.
2. Control Indoor Humidity Levels
Winter air is notoriously dryāespecially when your furnace runs around the clock. Low humidity leads to dry skin, irritated sinuses, and even cracked wood furniture. On the other hand, too much moisture can promote mold growth and dust mites.
Aim to keep humidity between 30ā50%. The most reliable way to do this is with a whole-home humidifier integrated into your HVAC system. These units automatically balance moisture throughout your home, providing consistent comfort all winter long.
For smaller spaces, portable humidifiers can helpābut clean them weekly and use distilled water to prevent mold and mineral buildup.
3. Ensure Proper Ventilation
When your home is sealed tight, pollutants like carbon dioxide, cooking fumes, and cleaning chemicals can quickly build up. To combat this, proper ventilation is key.
Consider installing a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)āboth bring in fresh outdoor air while conserving heat from the outgoing air.
Even simple steps like opening windows for five minutes daily or running bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans after use can make a noticeable difference in indoor air freshness.
4. Maintain Your Heating System
A clean, well-tuned heating system not only operates more efficientlyāit also circulates cleaner air. Schedule annual maintenance before winter hits to ensure everything runs safely and efficiently.
Our technicians at Red Dragon Heating & Cooling inspect for gas leaks, cracked heat exchangers, and blocked ventsāissues that can release harmful gases like carbon monoxide into your home.
We also recommend professional air duct cleaning every 3ā5 years, especially if you have pets or allergies. Clean ducts prevent dust and dander from circulating through your home, improving both comfort and efficiency.
5. Address Indoor Pollution Sources
During Gloversvilleās coldest months, when your home stays sealed up tight, itās essential to control pollution at its source.
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Cooking: Always use your range hood when cooking, especially with gas stoves that emit carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.
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Cleaning products: Choose low-VOC or natural cleaning options to minimize chemical buildup.
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Fireplaces and wood stoves: Have chimneys inspected annually and burn only seasoned hardwood to reduce smoke and particulate matter.
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Pets: Brush regularly, vacuum with a HEPA filter, and wash bedding weekly.
š Pro Tip: See our indoor air quality services to explore purification and ventilation solutions designed for Gloversville homes.
Monitor and Test Your Air Quality
Consider installing an indoor air quality monitor to track pollutants and humidity levels. Also, make sure carbon monoxide detectors are placed on every floorāespecially near sleeping areasāand test them monthly during heating season.
If your family experiences persistent allergies, coughing, or headaches in winter, professional indoor air testing can identify specific pollutants and help target solutions.
Professional Solutions for a Healthier Gloversville Home
At Red Dragon Heating & Cooling, we specialize in creating healthy, energy-efficient homes for Fulton County families. From advanced filtration systems and humidifier installations to whole-home ventilation solutions, our experts ensure your system supports both comfort and health all year long.
Regular maintenance, proper ventilation, and strategic upgrades go a long way toward making your home a clean, safe haven this winter.
Schedule your indoor air quality assessment today.
š Serving Gloversville, Johnstown, and surrounding Fulton County communities.
š Call (518) 775-1200 or visit www.518RedDragon.com
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Perfect ā Hereās your fully formatted, SEO-ready blog post for WordPress ā complete with optimized headers, meta description, internal link formatting, and image suggestions tailored for 518RedDragon.com and Gloversville, NY.
š 5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Winter
Published: October 27, 2025
Author: Red Dragon Heating & Cooling | Gloversville, NY
Meta Description (SEO):
Keep your Gloversville homeās air clean this winter. Learn 5 expert tips to improve indoor air quality, reduce allergens, and enhance comfort. Featuring duct sealing, humidity control, and HVAC maintenance advice from Red Dragon Heating & Cooling.
Intro:
Winter in Gloversville, NY means cozy nights indoorsābut it also means your homeās air can become stale and unhealthy. Sealed windows and hardworking furnaces trap pollutants, allergens, and moisture, creating air thatās far from fresh.
At Red Dragon Heating & Cooling, we help Fulton County families breathe easier with proven HVAC and indoor air quality solutions. Here are five ways to keep your air clean and healthy all winter long.
1ļøā£ Upgrade Your HVAC Filtration System
Your furnace filter is your first line of defense against airborne contaminants. During heavy heating months, switching from a basic fiberglass filter to a pleated MERV 8ā13 filter can make a dramatic difference.
These high-efficiency filters trap smaller particles like pollen, pet dander, and dustāwithout restricting airflow. For families with allergies or asthma, a HEPA filter offers even stronger protection, capturing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
š ļø Pro Tip: Always have a technician verify that your system can handle the airflow resistance of a HEPA filter.
š Related Service: Learn how duct sealing in Gloversville helps prevent dust and contaminants from re-entering your air system.
Image Suggestion:
A close-up of a technician replacing a pleated HVAC filter in a furnace unit.
2ļøā£ Control Indoor Humidity Levels
Winterās dry air can irritate sinuses, dry out skin, and damage wood flooring. Conversely, too much humidity leads to mold growth and musty odors.
Keep indoor humidity between 30ā50% for optimal comfort. The best solution is a whole-home humidifier integrated into your HVAC systemāit automatically balances moisture levels throughout your home.
Portable humidifiers can work for single rooms, but clean them weekly and use distilled water to prevent mold and mineral buildup.
Image Suggestion:
A family enjoying a cozy living room with a visible humidifier mist in the background.
3ļøā£ Ensure Proper Ventilation
With windows closed all winter, your indoor air can quickly fill with cooking fumes, cleaning chemicals, and excess carbon dioxide.
Installing a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) introduces fresh outdoor air while conserving heat from the outgoing airāan energy-efficient way to keep air fresh.
Even simple habits help: open windows for 5ā10 minutes daily, and use bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans during and after use.
Image Suggestion:
A graphic showing air exchange in an HRV system.
4ļøā£ Maintain Your Heating System
A neglected furnace can circulate dust, allergens, and even carbon monoxide. Schedule annual maintenance before winter to keep your system running safely and efficiently.
During maintenance, our Gloversville HVAC technicians inspect for:
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Gas leaks and cracked heat exchangers
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Dirty filters or ducts
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Inefficient components that raise utility costs
We also recommend professional duct cleaning every 3ā5 years, especially if you have pets or smokers at home.
Image Suggestion:
A Red Dragon technician inspecting a furnace with diagnostic tools.
5ļøā£ Address Indoor Pollution Sources
During Gloversvilleās coldest months, when you canāt rely on open windows, itās essential to limit indoor pollution at the source.
-
Cooking: Use your range hood whenever possibleāespecially over gas stoves.
-
Cleaning: Switch to low-VOC or natural cleaning products.
-
Fireplaces/Wood Stoves: Have chimneys inspected and cleaned annually.
-
Pets: Brush regularly, vacuum with a HEPA filter, and wash bedding weekly.
šæ Bonus Tip: Certain houseplants like spider plants and peace lilies can naturally reduce airborne toxins (just avoid overwatering).
š Explore Solutions: Visit our indoor air quality services page to see how we can help you breathe easier this winter.
Image Suggestion:
A living room with a dog, fireplace, and green plantsāclean and cozy.
Monitor and Test Your Air Quality
Install indoor air quality monitors to track pollutants and humidity. Also, ensure carbon monoxide detectors are on each floor and test them monthly.
If anyone in your home experiences headaches, coughing, or allergies that worsen in winter, consider professional indoor air testing to pinpoint specific contaminants.
Professional Solutions for a Healthier Gloversville Home
At Red Dragon Heating & Cooling, we specialize in creating healthy, energy-efficient homes across Gloversville, Johnstown, and surrounding Fulton County communities.
Our certified technicians install advanced filtration systems, humidifiers, and whole-home ventilation systems that keep your air clean and safe all year long.
Schedule your indoor air quality assessment today.
š Serving Gloversville, Johnstown, and Fulton County, NY
š Call (518) 775-1200 or visit 518RedDragon.com
š§ SEO Keywords to Add to WordPress Tags:
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Indoor Air Quality Gloversville NY
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Winter HVAC Tips
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Duct Sealing Fulton County
-
Air Purification Systems NY
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Red Dragon Heating and Cooling
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