4 ways to improve your indoor air quality — and your allergies
When allergies surface, you need real relief. Learn about how air duct cleaning can improve your air quality so you can be more comfortable at home. The air in your home matters!
I get a lot of calls from homeowners who suffer from allergies and want some relief through air duct cleaning and/or air purifiers. For a lot of people, keeping windows closed and running the AC is one way they try to help filter out troublesome contaminants, but as your HVAC system works year-round, it constantly circulates dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and other harsh environmental pollutants throughout your home. When you spend more time at home, you may find yourself coughing or sneezing or having trouble sleeping — signs that your indoor air quality is compromised and could be improved.
How clean you keep your air at home can make a huge impact on how you mitigate your allergies and how you feel.
Here are four tips to help reduce allergy flare-ups:
- Replace your home’s air filter often. Generally, pleated air filters should be replaced every 90 days. For allergy and asthma sufferers, filters should be changed every 6 weeks to keep indoor air quality at its best. The longer a filter is in place, the more dirt, dust and allergens are trapped clogging the filter and decreasing their filtering efficiency
- Your pets may be causing your sneezes. According to the American Lung Association, pet dander can often trigger allergies that range from congestion and sneezing to wheezing, watery eyes, and rashes. We have a dog in our home too, so we know how important it is to try to get a handle on pet dander! The best way to limit the impact of pet dander has on allergies is to regularly remove it from your home with quality air filters and an air purifier, like our Ion Air Purifier.
- Inspect air ducts for contaminants after home renovations. Dust and chemicals in building materials can cause respiratory issues. When renovations are completed, inspect air ducts to determine if a cleaning is needed to remove indoor air pollutants. And be sure to inspect and change the filters in your furnace and air exchanger.
- Make sure to have proper air flow in your home. Clogged air ducts can restrict a home’s air flow – possibly leading to mold growth during humid months. Increased levels of mold are harmful and can cause allergy like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, irritated nose and throat, and itchy eyes. Regular air duct cleanings and air duct sealing assure proper ventilation in your home and help prevent mold growth. And if you find mold – call us! A professional cleaning with sanitization is the only way to completely remove mold.
The bottom line is that cleaner air means fewer allergens, so bringing in professionals to clean your air ducts or install allergen-combatting devices such as ion air purifiers can make a profound difference.
At Clean Air Columbia, we offer air care for homes and businesses in mid-Missouri. Learn about how to alleviate your allergies today by setting up a free consultation with us online or contacting us directly at 573-489-8303 or info@cleanaircolumbia.com. In addition, if you’re curious about pollen count, check out the pollen count tracker in the footer of our web site. The tracker provides real-time data to help you prepare for those high-allergy response days!
— Steve Pezold, owner
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