The horrible flu that went around this winter reminded me that it has been some time since I wrote about indoor air quality.

As we face these tough strains of flu, an aging population and young children with growing lungs who are especially vulnerable, it’s important to reinforce the benefits of having the purest indoor air possible. I’m not saying it will prevent the flu, but it is proven to help, and every defense is a smart one.

The issue of air quality impacted me directly this year, as my new home doesn’t have the IAQ equipment I am used to. I noticed immediately and I sure miss it.

The first piece of equipment I plan to install is a high-efficiency filter on my new Lennox furnace called the PureAirTM system. It’s an industry-leading product that cleans the air in your home better than any other single system you can buy. It removes 99.9% of all airborne particles like pollen, dust and pet dander, and removes over 90% of viruses such as flu and cold. It’s also great at removing household odours caused by things such as pets, cleaning products and cooking.

March and April are the ideal time to install an IAQ system – ahead of allergy season and the winter viruses that are likely going to rear their ugly heads again next winter.

Image: Shao-Chun Wang