While many people associate allergy symptoms with pollen, pollution and other irritants out of your home, your indoor air quality can have a big impact on your symptoms. According to the EPA, “In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has shown that the air in homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the external air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research shows that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time inside. Thus, for many people, the threats to health may be bigger due to more interaction with air pollution indoors than outdoors.”
Our West Columbia homes are polluted by outdoor allergens like pollen that force their way inside, and by irritants like pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, chemicals from average 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 know that your HVAC can be your supporter or your foe when it comes to managing your allergies. A dirty system can harbor and distribute allergens throughout your home, so the answer is to keep your system well maintained. Primarily, you need to keep your air filters clean. Establish a reminder or mark it on your calendar to check them monthly and exchange them out when you see that they’re fairly dirty. They’ll typically need to be changed every two or three months, but this can differ considerably from home to house. You can find filters that span from the most basic level of filtering to hospital-grade HEPA filters. The specialists at Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. can help you decide which kind of filter will keep your home healthy and keep your HVAC operating correctly.
It’s also crucial to have your system routinely serviced by a pro to keep your inside air quality where it should be. As well as checking that critical filter, your service expert will clean the inner workings of your system and make sure that everything is operating as it should. You can also ask your technician if a duct cleaning would be helpful.
When it comes to your interior air quality, you can trust the professionals at Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. to take good care of you. On top of helping you keep your HVAC system up-to-date, we can help you ensure you have the tools you need to combat poor indoor air quality and allergens—like humidifiers and whole home air purifiers. Just give us a call at 803-265-4208 to ensure your home’s air is healthy and fresh.