Summer is a wonderful time. Everything is lush and green, the foliage is full and beautiful. Unfortunately for some of us Daytonians that suffer from seasonal allergies, the growth of plants isn’t as pleasant. Plants bring with them a very annoying side effect for allergy sufferers: pollen. For many, the solution may seem simple. Just stay indoors, right? Well, unfortunately, that might not work if your home’s HVAC isn’t actively working to reduce indoor allergens.
Luckily, there are a number of ways to reduce indoor allergens. Most of them simply involve proper care and maintenance of your air conditioning system. Here are 5 of the ways you can reduce indoor allergens so you can breathe easier.
Replace your air filter
You’ve probably heard it before, but we’re definitely here to say it again – it’s important to have the right air filter installed in your A/C to protect yourself from allergens.
Many homeowners neglect air conditioner maintenance or repair and thus find themselves with air filters that are entirely too outdated and inefficient at blocking pollen, dust, mold, bacteria, and other allergens from being circulated around your home.
Not sure what size air filter you need or which is best for your home’s needs? Give us a call and one of our HVAC technicians can help walk you through how to identify the size your individual HVAC system needs.
Avoid paper filters
It’s tempting to purchase paper air filters because they do tend to be the cheapest. Unfortunately, they don’t do a great job at trapping unwanted allergens. Smaller particles like bacteria and pollen can easily flow through paper filters and end up circulating around your home, causing a major problem for allergy sufferers in your household.
A better alternative to paper filters is to invest in HEPA (high-energy particle air) filters instead. HEPA filters are made of packed glass fibers rather than paper. Their superior construction allows them to better trap allergens. Above all, keeping your indoor air cleaner and allergen-free.
Replace your filters regularly
Just as important as choosing the right air filter, you also need to replace that filter regularly! How often you need to change your air filters depends on a variety of things. Not every HVAC is made the same so there’s no definitive rule but most people benefit from changing out their air filters every 90 days. Depending on the thickness of your filter and severity of your allergies, you may need to replace it more or less often.
The air filter may not be the issue
Even if you’re regularly replacing your air filters and using the proper filters each time, that might not be enough to keep allergens from entering your home through your A/C. If you’re not having an annual HVAC tune-up done each year, your ductwork may be filled with a buildup of dust and allergens that are getting cycled through your home each day.
Duct cleaning
If your HVAC system is dirty, you’re doing yourself a disservice by investing in good air filters. Those filters aren’t going to last as long or be as effective against stopping those pollutants. Unkept air ducts can easily house mold and mildew in Ohio’s humid climate. In other words, this isn’t something you want contaminating the air you breathe in your home.
If you haven’t had your ductwork maintained recently, reach out to A-Abel HVAC. Our service technicians will inspect, clean, and repair your HVAC to get it working in tip-top shape.