It's that time of year again… flowers are blooming, and the weather is getting warmer. However, that also means that pesky allergy season is back. Luckily, there is a way to fight back against allergies using your HVAC system! Here are our top six tips for using your HVAC system to alleviate allergies:
Purchase High-Quality Filters
The best way to improve the quality of air in your home is through your air filters. Filters are measured in Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or MERVs, which is used to measure the level of particle filtration. The highest MERV rating is a 20. However, during allergy season, a MERV with a rating of 8 will most likely be more helpful. They are more efficient when you're trying to trap smaller particles, which is the goal. Remember, do not forget to change your air filters every 3 months. If you have pets or begin to have issues with mold and dampness on your filters, change them more often to allow your filter to function efficiently.
Dust Your Vents
Dust, dust, and dust some more! More than likely, dusting shelves, cabinets, and blinds are probably on your spring cleaning list, don't forget about those pesky vents and registers! These two areas are often passed over when people begin dusting their homes. Which in return leads to the dusty registers and vents negatively affecting the quality of air in your home. Make sure to dust or vacuum vents and registers often to let you and your family to breathe easily.
Clean Around Your Indoor and Outdoor Unit
HVAC systems pull the air that is circulating outside your home into your HVAC system, which is then circulated throughout your home. The key is to make sure that the air that is being pulled in is as clean as possible. This means you should frequently check your outdoor unit and removing any debris from around it. Keeping a clean unit will allow it to run efficiently. Dust and debris inside the home can also be recirculated through your indoor unit. What does that mean? You should also be cleaning and dusting the area around any inside HVAC units you may have.
Keep the Right Level of Humidity in Your Home
When the level of humidity in your home is too high or too low, it can often cause discomfort and make allergies worse. A humidity level that is too high can cause mold to grow while a low humidity level can lead to dry skin and clogged pores. By using a humidifier throughout your home, you can always be sure that the level of humidity in your home is perfect!
Frequently Replace Your Filters
A simple task to alleviate any allergies that you may have heard us say once or twice before is to replace your air filters! By switching out air filters on a consistent basis you are lowering the chances of any of these outdoor allergens from getting in. We recommend switching out your air filters about every three months. If you have pets, make it every two months!
Schedule an HVAC Maintenance Appointment for Regular Maintenance
Some homeowners are unaware that their system often requires a regular maintenance visit. Maintenance appointments can often reduce the number of allergens that can enter your home. Regular maintenance appointments can also fix issues within your system before they become major problems that can cost you majorly. Here at The AIR Company of GA we want to prevent that from happening! If you are having any issues, think you are due for a maintenance check or have any questions give us a call! We are here to help you!
