There’s really no avoiding the weather or the outdoor allergens. However, you can minimize the effects of allergens inside your home with these HVAC tips.
Despite how the outdoors may trigger your symptoms, the answer is not to shut the outside air out of your home. This will only keep stale air inside your home. Indoor allergens can build up and make you just as sick, or worse. Fresh air is critical for allergy sufferers, and the right ventilation system will keep the allergens – and the suffering – to a minimum.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and it works by forcing air through a mesh that traps allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander. Keep in mind that HEPA filters have larger pressure drops and can adversely affect airflow through the furnace, reducing its heating and cooling performance. Give us a call before replacing your regular filter; we’d be happy to help determine if a HEPA filter is right for your home.
You have a couple options when shopping for an air purifier. One option is to purchase a portable unit, which filters the air in just one room, but is inexpensive, and can be moved from room to room. Or, you may choose a whole-house purifier, which is integrated into your HVAC distribution system. You can choose between filters, ionizers, UV Light purifiers or adsorbents like activated charcoal. Ionizers charge dust and other particles so that they either stick to charged plates in the ionizer or bond with other particles and become too heavy to remain airborne. UV light neutralizes and kills microorganisms. Adsorbent materials, like charcoal, trap particles on its surface and in its pores.
Dust and other allergens can build up in your duct work and get distributed throughout your home. It’s important to have your duct work cleaned regularly to keep your air clean and free from these eye-itching, nose-tickling particles.
Having the correct balance of humidity in your home is crucial in the fight against allergy symptoms. Too much moisture causes mold, which worsens symptoms; and too little can dry out mucus membranes, giving easy entry to allergens and germs. Installing a humidifier or dehumidifier (depending on the climate where you live) will work to keep moisture levels at the ideal 30-50%, and help you fight allergies and their unwelcome symptoms. If you have noticed issues with the air quality in your home and want to find ways to reduce your allergy symptoms this spring, give us a call and we can help you make the necessary changes to your home’s HVAC system. Call us today, at (301) 228-0286 or complete our contact form to schedule a visit from one of our highly qualified technicians.