Can My A/C Help Alleviate My Allergies? | R. A. Styron | A/C Specialists Chesapeake, VA
Spring time in Hampton Roads can be a rough time for many allergy sufferers. You expect to assaulted by the pollen when you are out doing yard work or enjoying a ballgame but inside your home you hope to get a reprieve from all that pollen. All too often we are not doing everything we can to rid our indoor air for all those nasty allergens.
So what exactly should you do to improve your indoor air quality? There are a few tips that will help you keep your indoor air in check to limit your exposure.
KEEP YOUR VENTS CLEANED AND DUSTED:
Cabinets, blinds, and shelves are always on your dusting list, but don’t forget about your vents and registers. Most homeowners neglect these two areas when dusting their homes. Unfortunately, dusty registers and vents will negatively affect your indoor air quality. All year around, while dusting or vacuuming make sure you get those registers and vents as well.
UPGRADE YOUR A/C FILTERS:
Filters are your first line of defense to cleaning and keeping your indoor air quality in the green. All filters are graded on a scale referred to as MERV (Minimum Efficiency Rating Value). MERV ratings are a numerical value ranging from 1 being the lowest efficiency up to 20 being the highest efficiency. The higher the number the more dust and dirt the filter is able to capture keeping them from circulating around your home. That being said not all systems are able to run effectively with the higher MERV ratings because they greatly restrict the amount of air flowing through the filter. We typically suggest nothing over a MERV rating of 8. All filters should be changed at least every 3 months; households with pets or residents with breathing problems should change them every month.
Our blog, All About Air Filters, dives deeper into filter ratings, their purposes, and which one might best fit your home and needs.
KEEPING THE RIGHT LEVEL OF HUMIDITY IN YOUR HOME:
The humidity of your home is often a homeowners last thought when it comes to the air quality in your home. Truth is, if the humidity level in your home is too high or too low, it can cause discomfort and negatively affect your allergies. Too high of a humidity level can cause mold to grow while a low humidity level can lead to dry skin. Installing a whole-home humidifier or even upgrading your system will help regulate the humidity levels.
SCHEDULE YOUR A/C MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT
Most homeowners know that regular maintenance cleanings are recommended but don’t understand the very real importance of them. These cleanings are essential to keeping your system running at full capacity, limiting breakdowns, and increasing its life expectancy. They also aid in keeping your indoor air quality at suitable levels by keeping the coils and inside of the system clean of dust and debris build-up. A good maintenance technician will open the cabinet of your system cleaning all components and most importantly the coils. The cost of a good quality maintenance plan will pale in comparison to repair bills and higher energy costs of an un-maintained system.
Our blog, Why Annual Maintenance Is So Important, dives deeper into the many benefits of a routine maintenance plan.