While many people correlate allergy symptoms with pollen, pollution and other irritants out of your home, your internal air quality can have a huge impact on your symptoms. According to the EPA, “In the last few years, a increasing body of scientific evidence has shown that the air in homes and other buildings can be more dangerously polluted than the outdoor air in even the greatest and most industrialized cities. Other research says that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time inside. So, for most people, the risks to health may be greater due to more contact with air pollution indoors than outdoors.”
Our West Jefferson homes are polluted by outdoor allergens like pollen that find their way inside, and by irritants like pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, chemicals from everyday household cleaners and more. So, what can you do about it? The key is already in your home! It’s your HVAC system.
You should know that your HVAC can be your ally or your nemesis when it comes to managing your allergies. A dirty system can harbor and circulate allergens around your home, so the solution is to keep your system operating well. Above all, you have to keep your air filters clean. Set a reminder or set it on your calendar to look at them monthly and exchange them out when you see that they’re getting dirty. They’ll normally need to be changed every two or three months, but this can vary greatly from house to household. You can buy filters that span from the most basic level of filtering to hospital-grade HEPA filters. The specialists at West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. can help you decide which form of filter will keep your home nourishing and keep your HVAC operating properly.
It’s also vital to have your system routinely serviced by a professional to keep your interior air quality where it should be. On top of inspecting that critical filter, your service specialist will clean the inner workings of your system and ensure that everything is working as it should. You can also ask your professional if a duct cleaning would be helpful.
When it comes to your internal air quality, you can put your faith in the experts at West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. to take good care of you. In addition to helping you keep your HVAC system up-to-date, we can help you ensure you have the tools you need to fight poor indoor air quality and allergens—like humidifiers and whole home air purifiers. Just give us a call at 614-879-9091 to certify that your home’s air is healthy and fresh.