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7 Indoor Air Quality Products & Services that Can Help Minimize Allergies in Your Home
Spring and summer allergies can be uncomfortable at best and debilitating at worst, particularly for children, elderly, and anyone with respiratory issues. What can you do to minimize the negative effects of allergens and other pollutants in your home? Your HVAC system has many components that impact ventilation and indoor air quality, including air filters and air ducts. Air cleaners are one way to help your system run cleaner and are an effortless way to reduce indoor air pollution. Here is a complete list:
1. Good Ventilation
The more we seal our homes against the elements, the more important ventilation becomes. Proper ventilation not only helps with dust, pet dander, household chemicals, and other contaminants, it also protects you against dangers such as carbon monoxide and other effects of fuel combustion. Have a licensed technician inspect the ventilation. This should be part of your spring and fall HVAC maintenance.
2. Clean Air Filters
Replacing or cleaning your air filters once a month is the simplest and most economical way to ensure that your HVAC system is working properly and removing as much dust and debris from your indoor air as possible. Clean air filters protect you and your system.
3. Humidifier or Dehumidifier
Maintaining the proper humidity level has a big impact on comfort. The dry Denver air can be rough on nasal passages, throats, eyes and skin, and can exacerbate cold, flu and allergy symptoms. Humidity levels depend somewhat on personal preference, but Ideally the level in your home should be between 30 and 50%.
4. Air Cleaners – upgraded filtration systems
An air cleaner is like a booster for your air filtration system. It works with your existing HVAC system to pull even microscopic particles from the air and trap them. There are various types of air cleaners and your HVAC professional can help you choose the one that is right for your home.
5. Clean Air Ducts
Your air ducts can contain construction debris, as well as excessive dust, dirt and pet hair, particularly if you don’t change or clean your air filters often enough. Cleaning your air ducts greatly reduces the chance of all that ending up back in your living space, or clogging and damaging your HVAC system. You can tell if your air ducts need to be cleaned by removing one of the vent covers and taking a picture of the inside of the ductwork. If you see large objects, or excessive dust, it’s probably time to schedule cleaning.
6. HVAC Maintenance (twice a year)
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system every spring and summer will not only ensure that your air conditioner and furnace are working properly before you need them, but also goes a long way to ensuring that the air in your home is clean and free of contaminants. Your HVAC technician will thoroughly inspect, maintain and clean your system, so you can start out the cooling and heating seasons breathing easy.
7. HEPA Systems
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) filtration systems, are known for providing the highest level of air cleaning. HEPA filters are tested and approved for removing contaminants on a microscopic level.
