While many people correlate allergy symptoms with pollen, pollution and other irritants outside your home, your interior air quality can have a large impact on your symptoms. According to the EPA, “In the last couple of years, a increasing body of scientific evidence has shown that the air in homes and other buildings can be more critically polluted than the external air in even the biggest and most industrialized cities. Other research shows that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time inside. Therefore, for many people, the dangers to health may be larger due to more interaction with air pollution indoors than outdoors.”
Our Sandpoint homes are polluted by outdoor allergens like pollen that make their way indoors, and by irritants like pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, chemicals from everyday household cleansers and more. So, what can you do about it? The answer is already in your home! It’s your HVAC system.
You should realize that your HVAC can be your best friend or your foe when it comes to controlling your allergies. A dirty system can foster and distribute allergens around your home, so the answer is to keep your system well maintained. Above all, you need to keep your air filters clean. Set a reminder or indicate it on your calendar to inspect them monthly and exchange them out when you see that they’re getting dirty. They’ll typically need to be exchanged every two or three months, but this can differ considerably from home to household. You can find filters that span from the most simple level of filtering to hospital-grade HEPA filters. The experts at Age Heating & Cooling can help you determine which type of filter will keep your home nourishing and keep your HVAC operating properly.
It’s also important to have your system habitually maintained by a pro to keep your indoor air quality where it should be. In addition to inspecting that critical filter, your service expert will clean the inner workings of your system and ensure that everything is operating as it should. You can also ask your specialist if a duct cleaning would be needed.
When it comes to your interior air quality, you can rely on the professionals at Age Heating & Cooling to take good care of you. On top of helping you keep your HVAC system maintained, we can help you make sure you have the tools you need to take on poor indoor air quality and allergens—like humidifiers and whole home air purifiers. Just give us a call at 208-578-4258 to certify that your home’s air is healthy and pure.