We always think of air pollution as smog or something outside in the air. But truthfully, if you’re like many Texan area homeowners, the air inside our homes or office buildings can be more polluted than the air outside. The air inside may be polluted with lead paint (and from lead dust tracked in from outside), formaldehyde, fire retardants, radon, cigarette smoke, or other harmful chemical household cleaners.

A stale indoor air and heating system can increase the amount of allergy-inducing dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores circulating through your house. This low air quality in your home can have a big effect on your health, irritate your nose and throat, and change your mood by making you feel tired or lethargic. These allergens can trigger respiratory problems (asthma flare-ups or lung issues), fatigue and sleepiness, or even digestive issues. So, allergy sufferers by trying to improve your home’s indoor air quality, you can help to avoid asthma flare-ups and allergy symptoms, while keeping you breathing easy through those chilly months.

Airflow is crucial for good indoor air quality. It may feel comfortable keeping your home sealed up tight during the winter months, sadly for those people who are sensitive to indoor allergens or have respiratory problems, those colder months can exacerbate those allergy problems. Yes, indoor air quality tends to worsen in the winter months because there is often no flow of fresh air from the outside, meaning allergens stay trapped inside.

In the recent decade, we’re spending more time indoors. As a homeowner, you want to ensure those people that are your family and friends are breathing clean air, who could be more affected by health issues such as children, people with asthma, and the elderly. They may be more sensitive to these indoor pollutants with repeated exposure over time. Unfortunately, it is not possible to eliminate all the allergens inside your home. However, you can reduce the number of allergens in your home and your exposure to them by doing some simple tasks to ensure your home’s air quality is optimal.

Have Air Vent Professionally Cleaned:

Air vents are notorious for harboring mold, pests, dirt, pet dander, fungus, dust mites, and really who knows what else may be lurking the duct system. However, for allergy sufferers it may help, but unless those ducts are dirty, there’s not a reason why they should be cleaned often. But, remember you should schedule a compete air vent and duct cleaning, if your renovating your home, have animal infestation in your HVAC or duct system, have visible mold or contaminants, or someone is suffering with an illness where the HVAC may be the culprit.

Keep your Home Clean:

Vacuuming the carpets or area rugs at least once or twice a week with an approved HEPA filter to reduce allergies. For those severe allergen sufferers, it may be better to remove all carpeting in your home and opt for hard surface flooring to cut down on those allergens. Also, making sure to remove your home’s clutter because it traps and holds dust, which can trigger allergen reactions.

Keep Greenery Outside:

Indoor plants can collect and foster the growth of mold. This is a problem for allergen sufferers, and you’ll want to avoid them. While some plants are beneficial by releasing oxygen to improve indoor air quality, they still trigger those allergies.

Change your Air Filter:

Air conditioners can really help improve air quality in your home, be certain to change the filters regularly, according the specific HVAC manufacturer’s instructions. Changing your filter often can help ensure that dust, pollens, impurities, and other airborne irritants get trapped in the air filter instead of recirculating throughout your home. Also, you should consider having your ducts professionally cleaned to remove any trapped dust by a licensed HVAC technician.

Purchase an Air Purifier:

Allergen sufferers can’t always control the source of the problem that is causing the indoor allergen problem. However, it may help to use an air purifier. The ionic purifiers can help to capture some of the irritants that may trigger allergy symptoms. Also, consider a dehumidifier in damp areas, such as your basement, bathrooms, kitchens, near washing machines, or any place where water can be collected to help prevent the growth of mold. During the summer months, using a humidifier and your AC will help to reduce the moisture in indoor air and helps to control allergens that are plaguing allergen sufferers.

Natural Fresh Air Ventilation:

It is important to make sure your home is adequately ventilated and has good air circulation flowing throughout. Yes, it is alright to open your windows from time to time to allow fresh air to move in your home. Therefore, it is important to make sure to keep your fans moving because they help to remove potential air contaminants from staying stagnant in the home, which comes from oven cooking or using toxic cleaning chemicals.

So, if you’re looking to improve your air quality and ventilation in your home to help reduce those indoor air pollutants contact us. You will need to speak with an Elite Heating and Air Conditioning licensed HVAC technician, they are specifically trained to help with any advanced designs of new homes that are starting to feature these type of AC units that bring outdoor air into the home or want to reduce the poor indoor air quality in your home.

Thankfully, more homeowners are becoming aware of the factors that are impacting their indoor air quality and are taking quick action. Learn how we can help you to prevent and reduce the air pollutants from entering your home. We’ll show you some steps to take to optimize your home’s indoor air quality, while improving your family’s health and comfort.

Call Elite Heating and Air Conditioning to schedule your appointment at (512) 368-8590 or learn more on how we can help your home air quality.