Each year, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. The most common type is seasonal allergies from both indoor and outdoor allergens. Seasonal allergies may be triggered by many different types of substances, including pollen, mold spores, dust mites, pet dander, and even cockroaches.
The good news is that with a solid plan, you can prepare your home to reduce the impact of seasonal allergies. With indoor air quality more polluted than outdoor air quality, it’s critical to improve the quality of the air inside your home. In fact, the average person spends 90% of their time indoors. Act now so your family can breathe better quality air this allergy season.
The best way to tackle allergy season and indoor air quality is in partnership with your local HVAC company. The HVAC system in your home greatly impacts air quality. J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing is an experienced and customer-focused heater company in Jacksonville, Florida. We work with our clients to improve indoor air quality with energy-efficient heating and air conditioning solutions.
How to Prepare Your Home for Allergy Season
1 – Clean House
One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve indoor air quality and reduce the impact of seasonal allergies is by cleaning your house. There’s a reason for spring cleaning. It rids your home of the dust and unwanted debris that built up over a winter spent indoors. However, it doesn’t have to be spring to deep clean your home.
A solid cleaning philosophy is to start at the top and work your way down. The idea is to clean the highest things first like cabinets, curtains, and shelves. The floors should be the last thing you clean. The goal is to remove dust, mold, mildew, and dirt. Thoroughly clean your home, including washing drapes, rugs, and bedding.
You don’t need to deep clean often. Regular weekly cleaning reduces allergens. Vacuum, dust, and clean bathrooms and floors each week to keep your home in top shape. This also reduces the number of unwanted irritants your family is exposed to.
2 – Change the Air Filter
The best action to take to reduce allergens in your home’s air is to regularly change the air filter. For best results, change your air filter every month to three months. If you smoke, have pets, or live in an area with poor outdoor air quality, you may need to change your air filter more frequently.
The job of the air filter is to remove unwanted substances like dirt and dust from the air in your HVAC system before that air is pushed through the vents into your home. If the air filter is dirty, it won’t work properly. This means your HVAC unit has to work harder to push air into your home and that air won’t be as clean as it should be. Clean air filters lead to better indoor air quality.
3 – Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Regularly scheduled HVAC maintenance offers many benefits. One of those benefits is to reduce exposure to allergens in your home. HVAC maintenance performed by quality heater companies in Jacksonville will include cleaning and inspection of your unit. Usually, the air filter is also cleaned or replaced as part of the service.
HVAC maintenance helps to keep your unit in good working order, which helps extend the life of your unit and increase energy efficiency. Overall, HVAC maintenance is a smart decision to keep your home safe and healthy. Sign up for a Preventative Maintenance Plan for automatic scheduling, savings on parts and repairs, and regular cleaning and inspection of your HVAC unit.
4 – Clean Air Ducts
The air ducts in your home are the passageway for air to enter your livable spaces from your HVAC system. Over time, dirt, debris, and other unwanted substances build up in your air ducts. As the air passes through your HVAC system, these unwanted allergens can move into your home with heated or cooled air. Also, when your air ducts are dirty, your air filters can become clogged more frequently.
To prepare for allergy season and improve the indoor air quality in your home, schedule air duct cleaning with your local HVAC company. Air duct cleaning can also remove harmful substances like mold from your ventilation system. Breathe easy this allergy season by cleaning your home’s air ducts.
5 – Install a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier helps to regulate the humidity level in your home by removing moisture from the air. Florida has a humid climate which can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. Both mold and mildew negatively impact your home’s air quality and lead to dangerous health issues. By regulating your home’s moisture levels, the environment will be less hospitable for mold and mildew to grow.
Also, reducing moisture in your home offers other benefits like better temperature control and reduced chance of water damage. Stay on top of your home’s air quality with smart solutions like installing a dehumidifier.
Breathe Easier This Allergy Season
Don’t wait until the itchy eyes and runny noses start! Instead, prepare your home for allergy season with our home improvement strategies. Take the time to clean and schedule HVAC maintenance in order to remove unwanted allergens from your home. Be proactive to create a healthy environment for your family.
At J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing we offer installation, preventative maintenance, and repair for your HVAC system. As one of Jacksonville’s preferred and top-quality heating companies, we’re here to serve you to improve both the air quality and energy efficiency in your home. Contact us today to prepare your home for allergy season.
