{"id":1399,"date":"2025-05-01T07:52:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T11:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/?p=1399"},"modified":"2025-06-02T07:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T11:55:18","slug":"healthy-home-checklist-what-to-do-before-summer-heat-hits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/healthy-home-checklist-what-to-do-before-summer-heat-hits\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Home Checklist: What to Do Before Summer Heat Hits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"281\">As the weather warms up, it\u2019s not just your HVAC system that needs a tune-up\u2014your entire home environment should be prepped for the challenges of summer. Rising humidity, trapped allergens, and poor ventilation can all lead to issues like mold growth, musty odors, and worsened allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"578\">Use this Healthy Home Checklist to get ahead of common summer air quality problems\u2014and breathe easier all season long.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"703\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">1. Clean Your Air Ducts<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"728\">Over time, dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores accumulate in your ductwork. Once the air conditioning kicks on, those particles can circulate throughout your entire home. Professional air duct cleaning removes built-up debris, improves airflow, and supports healthier indoor air.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"1017\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">2. Replace HVAC Filters<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"1042\">Old or clogged air filters reduce HVAC efficiency and allow airborne particles to linger. Replace filters every 1\u20133 months to help your system perform better and to reduce allergens like pollen and dust mites that spike in warmer months.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"1283\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">3. Monitor Humidity Levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"1311\">High humidity is a major contributor to mold growth. Use a hygrometer to monitor indoor humidity and keep levels between 30\u201350%. If your home consistently runs high\u2014especially in basements or crawl spaces\u2014consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"1566\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">4. Seal Your Crawl Space<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"1592\">If you have an unsealed or vented crawl space, warm, humid air can create the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Encapsulation with a vapor barrier and moisture control system helps prevent mold, protects your foundation, and improves the quality of the air you breathe upstairs.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"1885\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">5. Schedule an Indoor Air Quality Assessment<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"1931\">Indoor air can be up to 5x more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. A professional IAQ assessment helps identify issues like poor ventilation, airborne contaminants, or mold spores that can impact your family\u2019s health\u2014especially during allergy season.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"2199\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">6. Deep Clean Soft Surfaces<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"2228\">Fabrics like curtains, rugs, and upholstery can trap allergens and odors. Steam cleaning or washing them before the peak of summer helps reduce indoor pollutants and freshens your living space.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"2425\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">7. Check for Musty Odors or Water Stains<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"2467\">Unexplained odors or stains are often early signs of hidden moisture or mold. Inspect basements, attics, and crawl spaces regularly\u2014especially after heavy spring rains.<\/p>\n<h3 data-renderer-start-pos=\"2639\"><strong data-renderer-mark=\"true\">Take Action Now for a Healthier Summer<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4 data-renderer-start-pos=\"2639\">By checking these items off your list in May, you\u2019ll not only improve your home\u2019s comfort\u2014you\u2019ll help prevent long-term damage and health risks.<\/h4>\n<p data-renderer-start-pos=\"2825\">At Green Home Solutions of Middle Tennessee, we specialize in indoor air quality, mold prevention, crawl space encapsulation, and more. Whether you need an air duct cleaning or a full moisture control plan, we make air better\u2014just in time for summer.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the weather warms up, it\u2019s not just your HVAC system that needs a tune-up\u2014your entire home environment should be prepped for the challenges of summer. Rising humidity, trapped allergens, and poor ventilation can all lead to issues like mold growth, musty odors, and worsened allergy symptoms. Use this Healthy Home Checklist to get ahead [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1400,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2025\/06\/May-Blog-1-Healthy-Home-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/58\/2025\/06\/May-Blog-1-Healthy-Home-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"qcampbell","author_link":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/author\/qcampbell\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1399"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1406,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1399\/revisions\/1406"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenhomesolutions.com\/middle-tennessee\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}