Pollen, dust, and other allergens are everywhere. For those that suffer from allergies and/or asthma, this time of year can be particularly brutal. Here are five tips for your HVAC system to help ease your allergies and asthma:
1. Make sure your system is regularly serviced
Having a professional come to you to check, clean, and repair your system regularly is important. Every year, a professional should maintenance your HVAC system to maximize the efficiency of your system, including how well it filters out allergens.
2. Air out your home
Dense, stuffy air can easily trigger difficulty breathing, especially if there are also allergens in the air. The air in your house does not circulate or replace itself unless you do so. If allergens are not a concern, opening your windows and turning on a fan regularly can replace the stagnant air in your home with fresh air. If allergies are a concern, consider running your AC system regularly. Fresh air from outside will be pumped into your home as the old air is pumped out. It is important to ensure that your entire HVAC system in clean before doing this, otherwise anything in your system will be brought into your home, including dust, allergens, mold, and mildew.
3. Inspect your filters regularly
Making sure your air filter is able to filter out allergens is key to keeping them out of your home and keeping your HVAC system working efficiently. Depending on the type of filter you have, the time between installing and replacing your filter may vary. Check your filter every month for visible buildup of dirt, dust, or anything else that could be on your filter. Even if your filter looks visibly clean, replace the filter according to the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure optimal efficiency.
4. Keep your HVAC system clean
Making sure that your HVAC system is clean, both inside and outside the home, is a way to keep allergens to a minimal.
On the outside: Keep the area surrounding the outdoor components of your system tidy. Make sure that grass or shrubs are not overgrown around this area. Clear the unit of anything that can infiltrate your system including leaves, twigs, and plant trimmings.
On the inside: Clear vents and ducts of any dust and animal hair. Check each part of your system for mold and mildew. If you see something that looks like it could be mold, get it tested immediately as there are dangerous health problems that can arise from breathing mold in. If the test comes back positive, consult a professional to have it removed.
5. Pick the right filter for you
There are various types and brands of air filters out there. If allergies and/or asthma is your concern, there are specialty filters that can filter out various allergens. Depending on the severity and types of breathing problems you have, there are filters that can remove large allergens and irritants, like pollen and dust, or much smaller allergens and irritants, like tobacco smoke and bacteria. Do your research before picking a filter.
We hope that this can help allergy and asthma sufferers find some relief from their symptoms. If you have any HVAC concerns, contact a professional technician for help. If you have any medical concerns, contact a medical professional.
ความคิดเห็น