What to Do About Your Arch-Nemesis, Allergens
Follow these tips to slay allergies and improve air quality!
Home is not only where your heart is but also where we live and breathe for much of our life. That’s why indoor air quality is so important.
The enemy that threatens our indoor bliss is allergens. Allergens include annoying substances like dust, smoke, pet dander, lint and pollen.
Have no fear! The Rescue Your Air & Drain team has advice to guard you against this ever-present nemesis. Following these crucial tips can help you slay allergens and improve the air quality in your home.
- Choose a Good Filter
A good air filter is your best protection against indoor allergens.If replacing your filter is a DIY task, make sure you choose a filter with the proper Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or MERV rating. The MERV is the standard overall rating for the filter’s ability to remove various size particles from the air.Another popular choice is the High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter, or HEPA filter. HEPA filters can remove up to 99.97 percent of contaminants and allergens.Ask your service professional to recommend the best filter choice for your home. If you’re in between air service professionals, just send us a note and we’d be happy to help you.
- Check and Clean Your HVAC System Registers
Dust and other allergens trapped in your registers can get back into the air unless you check and clean them on a regular basis. Lift up your floor grates and clean them by sweeping or wiping the debris or dust away.You’ll also want to ensure that no furniture is blocking air flow from your registers and make sure all registers are open and intact.
- Keep Your Air Ducts Clean
Think of the network of ducts in your home as the clean highway that moves air from place to place.According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), keeping your air ducts and vents clean will increase energy efficiency and indoor-air quality – not to mention the benefits of clean air ducts to allergen-sensitive family members.Keeping your ducts clean is an important checklist item for seasonal maintenance and something to add to your professional routine maintenance calendar.
- Schedule Routine Maintenance on Your HVAC System
Keep your system running at peak performance by scheduling seasonal routine maintenance. Regular maintenance helps your system maintain efficiency, which means your home will receive the proper airflow necessary to prevent the buildup of allergens. That’s a win-win.
Contact Rescue Your Air & Drain to schedule your routine maintenance or to ask any questions regarding your indoor air quality. And don’t forget to breathe easy!
