Ways To Get Cleaner Indoor Air To Find Relief From Your Allergies
If anyone in your home has chronic allergies, it might be worthwhile for you to look into the quality of your indoor air. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is often two to five times more polluted than average outdoor air. This is why your family member might experience more allergy flare ups while he or she is at home. There are steps you can take to get cleaner air, and you can begin by hiring an HVAC company.
Step 1: Get The Air Tested
The first step is determining the condition of your indoor air, and this is something an HVAC company can do through an indoor air quality test. This test requires several steps, but it can help you find ways to improve the quality of your indoor air. Most indoor air quality tests include checking the following things:
- Humidity level in the house – Humidity levels vary by season, but they play a role in air quality. If your house is too humid, it might be the perfect breeding place for allergens.
- Air flow in the home – Air needs to continuously flow through your home in order for it to stay clean because poor air flow leads to stagnant, dirty air.
- Ventilation system – The ventilation system assists with moving air through your house, and poor ventilation leads to poor air flow.
- Heating and air conditioning system – An HVAC system that operates with duct work is often a place that contains allergens, such as mold and mildew.
- Water leaks – Water leaks tend to cause mold to grow, and they can lead to humid conditions in a house.
- Pest droppings – When pest droppings are present, they can end up contaminating the air in your house.
Each of these factors can play a role in the quality of the air you are breathing inside your house. From this inspection, the HVAC company may be able to recommend some ways to improve the air quality inside your house.
Step 2: Make The Necessary Repairs Or Changes
Here are some of the ways an HVAC company can help you get cleaner air in your house:
- Clean the air ducts – If your home has duct work, they may recommend cleaning the air ducts. This will stop the spreading of germs and allergens, which will help improve your air quality.
- Sanitize the ducts – After they clean the ducts, they may recommend sanitizing them. This often involves the use of a fog treatment, which involves spraying sanitizing chemicals in all air ducts.
- Make changes to your ventilation system – If you have bathroom exhaust fans that are not working, the company might suggest replacing these so that they can help eliminate moisture from your house.
- Replace your air filter with a HEPA filter – HEPA filters are much better at cleaning air than traditional furnace filters, and adding one of these could make a difference in your indoor air.
- Install whole-house air cleaner – Another good option is to get a whole-house air cleaner and purifier. This system will clean all the air in your home, leaving it safer to breathe in.
- Run a dehumidifier – If the humidity level in your home is too high, running a dehumidifier can help. This device will remove excess moisture from your air, which could reduce the amount of allergens and bacteria in your house.
There are a variety of tasks that can be completed to get cleaner indoor air, and you should consider doing some of these things to make your house a safer place to live. Check it out how a properly-functioning HVAC system can make a difference in your home.