Keeping your home clean and appealing can be difficult at times, but this maintenance can become overwhelming if you have a dog. No matter what type of dog you have or how well you clean your home, pet dander will infiltrate your indoor air quality. If you are one of the 3 out of every 10 people in the United States who suffer from allergies to their dog or cat, improving your air quality is essential to your health and well-being. Fortunately, maintaining your air conditioner can help reduce pet dander in the home while managing your allergy symptoms. Using this guide and your contractor's help, you can maintain your system to reduce pet dander in the home.
Filters
Your HVAC filters trap dirt, dust, and other debris, preventing it from flowing into the home. Over time, these filters can quickly clog up. Filters that are dirty and clogged with dust and other allergens are not only hazardous to your health, but it also decreases air flow, making your system run less efficiently.
Cleaning or changing your filters regularly is an essential part of HVAC maintenance, but it can also improve your indoor air quality. Most contractors recommend replacing the filter every few months. However, if you have pets and live with allergies, replace the filter once a month.
If using a disposable option, consider replacing with a HEPA filter that is capable of trapping the smallest allergens.
Ductwork
Located in your home's ceiling, walls, crawl space, and attic, the ductwork is a complicated series of tubing that moves conditioned air from the outside into your home. During this process, dust, dirt, and even the smallest of particles will flow into the home, affecting the air quality and increasing your allergy symptoms.
Removing the allergens from the ductwork is a great way to prevent further allergens from your home. Although not proven effective, duct cleaning can be beneficial for allergy sufferers.
Thermostat
If you are like many homeowners, you have an invested in a programmable thermostat, which allows you to set temperatures higher when you are not inside the home. This programmable feature is an effective way to save money on your energy bills.
Unfortunately, dirt, dander, pollen, and other irritants will become stagnant in the air while the air conditioner is not running. If your air conditioner is turned off most of the day while you are at school or work, your indoor air quality will suffer, causing you to experience allergy symptoms.
Allowing your air conditioner to run while you are away from home may not be the most energy-efficient option, but it will benefit your indoor air quality.
With a programmable thermostat, you do have many different options. If you spend the majority of the day away from home, leave your air conditioning off most of the day, but allow it to start cooling an hour or so before you arrive home. The air circulation will begin before you arrive home, but the system will be off during the day. This will allow you to conserve energy while reducing allergens that may be in the air.
You may also choose to turn the air conditioner on while you are experiencing allergy symptoms. By circulating the air inside the home, you will not be directly affected by dirt, dust, and pet dander in the air when you are already experiencing discomfort.
Lastly, consider running the air conditioner while cleaning the home. Dusting and vacuuming will stir up plenty of allergens, but ensuring your air is circulating during these tasks will reduce your exposure.
Maintaining your HVAC system is important for prolonging its lifespan, ensuring energy efficiency, and improving air quality. These simple tips offer numerous benefits to your system and your overall health.
Share15 August 2017
Hi there, I am Nadine Bachmier. I am going to discuss the various ways HVAC contractors can keep the temperatures in your business stable. HVAC contractors focus on maintaining and repairing the air conditioner, furnace, and ductwork used in your building. To keep the heating and cooling system in good shape, contractors may need to replace internal components, clean out channels, or simply perform a full upgrade. I will talk about the tools and techniques used to maintain and repair the equipment in your building. I will also share information about new products as they hit the HVAC market. I hope you will follow along and learn all you can.