Like most homeowners, when the weather gets colder you've probably found yourself keeping your windows closed as much as possible. When winter arrives, it makes its presence known, especially here in Canada.

For the sake of keeping your heating bills under control, it is definitely important to seal up your home as much as you can. However, just remember that there are some downsides to this practice – namely, worse air quality.

During the warmer months of the year, chemicals irritants from common household cleaners and smoke from gas cooking or cigarettes are less of a problem. As long as the windows are open, the constant breeze prevents air quality from significantly worsening. But once everything is closed, residents may experience headaches and congestion that they cannot explain.

Cracking the windows open slightly on days that aren't too cold can help. If that is not feasible, here are some other tips for improving indoor air quality:

• Buy an air purifier: If dust and other allergens are presenting a problem, try an air purifier with a built-in HEPA filter. These will remove irritating particles from the air.
• Bathe your pets: You might be surprised by how quickly animal dander can build up when your house is sealed. Even though your pets may not be spending as much time outside, you may want to bathe them more frequently anyway for the sake of your indoor air.
• Get a plant: Believe it or not, simple houseplants can actually remove pollutants from the air through a process called phytoremediation. Not only will you breathe easier, but your home will look better, too!

Looking for a good deal on your home insurance rate? Give Fundy Mutual a call today. Our experts are always here to answer your questions.