Battling Fall Allergies With Your HVAC
The New Jersey weather forecast looks like a roller coaster this month. That means some of us are opening and closing windows, turning the AC on or off, or even turning on the furnace. Temp Control wants to remind its customers that fall weather brings its own sets of challenges when it comes to indoor air quality and one of those is the continued battle with seasonal allergies.
The Allergy and Asthma Specialists of New Jersey say that ragweed, mold and other weeds are primary contributors to allergy sufferers in our state. How you use and maintain your HVAC system plays a significant role in combating these allergens while also keeping your home comfortable during these months when the temperatures are fluctuating.
CLEANING YOUR HOME
One of the first remedies for allergy sufferers is to try to keep your home’s windows and doors closed. Avoid the temptation to open the windows for the evening. It’s great to listen to the outdoors or turn off the HVAC to save a few dollars, but not at the expense of your health.
This means that you’ll be running your AC or furnace during this time of the year when these allergen particles may be trying to enter your home through doors or on your clothes and shoes. You want to run a clean system to reduce allergens from circulating through the HVAC system. Certainly, you want to vacuum a little more often. And you want to clean surfaces in your home using a cloth that collects the dust rather than pushing dust around with a feather duster.
AIR PURIFIER
Another step to further combating allergens is purchasing an air purifier. Temp Control offers a deal on air purifiers that can improve the air quality in your home by neutralizing microbes and collecting other pollutants.
Like all things, you have myriad choices, styles, and options to pick from when it comes to air purifiers. Consulting with the pros at Temp Control will make the selection easier on you and give you the best possible approach to fighting allergens given your specific HVAC system and house construction.
FILTERS
But also, one of the single best ways–and possibly the cheapest—is to keep an eye on your filters and the type of filters you use with your HVAC system. Naturally, changing filters according to the manufacturer’s recommendations is important. But it’s also a good idea to visually inspect those filters before the recommended time period.
Sometimes heavy traffic in and out of a house can overload a filter before its change date. Sometimes more pollutants—such as pets or smokers–in the air can clog filters before we’re ready to replace them. This puts a strain on the HVAC system and it also reduces the quality of the air in the home.
The type of air filter you choose is important too. This is trickier than it seems. There are lots of different types of filters on the market. Some use woven screens to filter material. Some use electronics or other chemical means to neutralize or collect pollutants. Don’t assume all filters will work well with your system or will perform as advertised. Consulting with your Temp Control professional should be part of your decision-making effort when selecting a filter.
Yes, fall is in the air and so are allergens. With a few simple steps we can make huge strides in maintaining our indoor comfort but also battle watery eyes and sneezes that seem to follow us from the outside.