Air Purification Tips During Allergy Season
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Posted June 9, 2018
There’s nothing worse than sneezing your way through each season, and with pollen on the rise, allergies are at an all-time high. It’s time to breath clearly with our easy air purification tips to freshen up your home and relieve your worst allergy symptoms.
Eliminate Clutter
There’s a reason spring cleaning comes, well, in the spring. It’s closely tied to allergy season, which means that consolidating those items that collect dust like books, magazines, or knick-knacks can make a big difference in your home. This also means really getting in and cleaning upholstered furniture like your sofa. If it’s time for an upgrade, consider a leather option that won’t collect dust quite so easily.
Replace Your Air Filter
The best way to trap indoor air pollutants is to ensure that your air filter is changed every 30-60 days. Your air will be cleaner and more breathable with a fresh filter. As the air in your home gets recycled through your duct system, your filter gets dirtier and more clogged. If this buildup continues for too long, you will be putting your HVAC system at risk and adding unnecessary particles to your indoor air. Learn more in our blog post about your air filtration options and how to choose the right filter.
Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
As we mentioned before, air circulates through your home via an air duct system. While filter changes will help these ducts stay reasonably clean, every 5-7 years you may want to consider having your ducts cleaned, especially if you have pets in your home. The frequency of cleaning depends on the condition you keep your home in, i.e., dirtier houses will need more frequent cleanings. The best way to tell if you are due for cleaning is to peek into your ducts. You can unscrew one of the vents and use the flash on your camera to take a picture. You’ll quickly see the condition of your system. If you see lots of dust bunnies, then it may be time to bring in an HVAC expert for inspection and cleaning.
Not sure if you need an inspection or cleaning? Discover what can be hiding in your air ducts in one of our latest blog posts.
Get Your Carpets Cleaned
Your carpets can end up being a haven for dust mites if you aren’t giving it a regular deep clean. Though ditching carpet for flooring is not in everyone’s budget, having a professional cleaning once a year will make a world of difference. You can have a company come in or rent a carpet cleaning machine from your local grocery or home improvement store. Regular vacuuming can’t go as deep as a professional cleaning will so take this opportunity to clean those carpets.
Add Some Houseplants
Bringing living, green plants into your house is a natural way to reduce toxins in the air and provide extra fresh oxygen to your home. NASA suggests best practice for air cleaning is to have at least one plant per 100 square feet of your home. Think plants like Aloe Vera, English Ivy, Yucca or Bamboo. With live plants, not only will you be removing harmful airborne toxins, but you’ll also be adding a simple and attractive element to your home decor. Check out this other blog post about purifying plants for your home to learn more about the benefits of different plants for your indoor air quality.
Check for Mold & Mildew
Mold thrives in warm weather, and with hot and humid summers in the midst, we want to ensure that you’re eliminating these toxic elements from your home. Mold can easily grow undetected for many months and sometimes even years. To avoid severe respiratory and asthma-related health problems, inspect your home for potential mold. This may mean investing in a dehumidifier or UV Germicidal Lights built into your ductwork. If you do spot any mold, contact a professional immediately to have the problem taken care of adequately. Read more in our other blog post about how to handle mold and mildew in your home.
If you follow the air purification tips we listed above, you should see a drastic reduction in the effects of allergens on you and your family. Be proactive in fighting off the elements that worsen your allergies and improve your home’s indoor air quality for better breathability all summer long. Whether you make a significant upgrade or take small steps toward cleaning up your air, Hiller is here to help. Just give us a call!
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