While many people correlate allergy symptoms with pollen, pollution and other irritants outside your home, your indoor air quality can have a big impact on your symptoms. According to the EPA, “In the last few years, a rising body of scientific evidence has specified that the air within homes and other buildings can be more dangerously polluted than the external air in even the biggest and most industrialized cities. Other research says that people devote approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be larger due to more interaction with air pollution indoors than outdoors.”
Our Erie homes are polluted by outdoor allergens like pollen that find 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 key is already in your home! It’s your HVAC system.
You should understand that your HVAC can be your ally or your worst enemy when it comes to controlling your allergies. A dirty system can harbor and distribute allergens all over your home, so the key is to keep your system operating well. Primarily, you need to keep your air filters clean. Establish a reminder or set it on your calendar to inspect them monthly and change them out when you see that they’re fairly dirty. They’ll typically need to be replaced every two or three months, but this can vary significantly from household to house. You can find filters that span from the most straightforward level of filtering to hospital-grade HEPA filters. The specialists at Patterson & Stirling Inc can help you decide which type of filter will keep your home healthy and keep your HVAC running efficiently.
It’s also important to have your system regularly checked by a pro to keep your inside air quality where it should be. In addition to examining that essential filter, your service technician will clean the central workings of your system and guarantee that everything is operating as it should. You can also ask your professional if a duct cleaning would be helpful.
When it comes to your interior air quality, you can trust the experts at Patterson & Stirling Inc to take good care of you. In addition to helping you keep your HVAC system operating, we can help you ensure you have the tools you need to fight poor indoor air quality and allergens—like humidifiers and whole home air purifiers. Just give us a call at 814-308-0416 to certify that your home’s air is healthy and clean.