Allergens in the Air: Nothing to Sneeze At
Sneeze, and sneeze some more. Respiratory allergies are a hassle, and during certain seasons, they may surpass inconvenience and become downright debilitating. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, chances are that for a few months of the year, you experience discomfort daily from breathing in air that contains so many invisible allergens that have built up from entrance points and air pathways in your home or office. While the pollen outdoors could be a major contributing factor, there’s another culprit: your air conditioner.
Unclean HVAC (or Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems are often the main suspects when it comes to bad allergic reactions at home or at work. They are usually unseen compared to all other allergens that you typically look for, which is what makes them particularly worrisome.
Allergens and air conditioning should only belong together in this sentence. Let’s take a quick look at why allergens may be infiltrating your HVAC system and how you can stop it.
How to Ensure Clean Airways
Assuming you’ve visited an allergist, it’s easy to spot triggers when outside, as the source will cause reactions upon close contact to your nose and eyes. Whether it’s pollen or pet dander, you can make a point of staying away if you know you’re allergic to something.
Indoors, the main cause of air allergies is a poorly maintained air conditioning system. It is the main source of circulating air indoors that carries allergens, dust, microbes, debris, and other microelements. These are common triggers for allergic rhinitis and different levels of allergic reactions.
Here are the three main steps involved in clearing your home of allergens indoors:
Clean up your HVAC system. Air conditioning maintenance and cleanup services involve checking all air entrance points, air vents, filters, and duct systems. Cleaning the entrance and access points is important. Aside from clearing the airway of dust, dirt, and microbes, it also keeps your HVAC system in peak condition.
Check the outdoor area for any source of allergens and microbes. Make sure that the source of air coming in is free of dusty items and surfaces. Check for any nearby sources of microbe, particles, and bad smells from outdoor elements. This maintains a clean, clear source of incoming air.
Maintain a clean and dust-free environment. Keeping your home allergen-free involves regular indoor cleaning as well. Accumulated dust and microparticles can induce allergic reactions to intensify when combined with any dust and microbes from a bad HVAC system. The air circulation will distribute them all.
Regular HVAC Maintenance Is a Must
Air conditioning maintenance is important for all households, but they are particularly crucial if you suffer from respiratory allergies. Ultimately, minimizing the allergens in your home consists of keeping a clean indoor environment, maintaining your HVAC system, and ensuring a clean source of air from the outdoors.
Aside from cleaning and maintenance, we also encourage regular air filter replacements. It is recommended to change them after three months of use. It’s wise to replace your regular filters with HEPA filters that are 99.9% effective against microparticles. While they may be more expensive, they will filter much more dust and debris, providing you with higher quality indoor air. In some cases, air conditioning repair may be necessary to restore peak performance.
Get Clean, Allergen-free Air Today!
We at Aircor Heating Cooling provide professional air conditioning maintenance services—cleaning and safety inspection included. Our goal is to help you maintain your HVAC system for clean, peak performance. Everyone deserves to enjoy the fresh air that does not irritate their breathing.
Don’t wait for another round of sneezing, allergies, eye irritations, and bad dense air to ruin your home or your workspace. Call the top HVAC contractors in Chicago, IL today!
Let’s take care of that bad air network. Your nose, lungs, and eyes will thank you.
