Achoo! Allergy season is on its way, so bracing yourself for those runny noses and watery eyes is extremely important. While there are many causes of allergies, homeowners should be aware of how indoor air quality of their home can also play a large role. It’s possible that all of those allergens and micro-pollutants inducing your health reactions could be coming right from your air conditioning unit.
So, how do these seasonal allergies affect your body, and how do you combat them in the comfort of your home? Ace Air Conditioning is here to explain just that! For more information on how IAQ can affect your body, read on!
The Truth Behind Allergy Season
The pollen from grass, weeds, trees and mold can all cause allergies. Pollen can easily settle in your eyes, nose, and on your skin after being carried by the wind. The majority of these allergens typically bloom from mid-to-late spring to summer, although it also varies on where you live.
The unfortunate truth is that things that cause allergies don’t stop at your front door. There are many indoor allergens that can affect your health year round! The best way to fight these allergens is to know what they are, where they’re coming from and how to prevent them.
Common Allergens In Your Home
There are a variety of contaminants that can build up in your unit and cause mild to severe allergic reactions. Some of the most common causes of indoor allergies are:
- Dust
- Dirt
- Pollen
- Pet Dander
- Houseplants
- Mold
All of these are capable of traveling through your unit and end up in every room in your house as air pollutants. Since your heating and cooling system circulates indoor air at least five to seven times per day, there is a good chance that you may come into contact with contaminants and breathe them in. Breathing these in can cause intense sneezing, coughing, congestion and even digestive issues.
Maintaining Your IAQ
If not serviced regularly, even a brand-new air conditioner with a top-notch air filter won’t effectively block these allergens. At Ace Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we advise taking further steps to make your air conditioner as allergen-free as possible. Installing a high-quality filter is a great place to start! Some other things you can do are:
- Clean your air ducts. In your HVAC system, pollen, dust, mold spores and other airborne contaminants can accumulate. At least once every three to five years have a qualified professional clean up all the debris that has formed in your ducts.
- Get rid of that debris. Maintain the area around your outdoor AC unit by clearing any dirt, debris and other objects that could collect in it. This will stop the equipment from bringing indoor allergens from the outside into your home.
- Switch out your filter. An expensive air filter is useless if it’s loaded with irritating allergens. Every 30 to 60 days, change your filter and monitor it once a month. We recommend changing your filter once a month if you have animals that roam the house.
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality In Lake Charles Today!
Choose a reliable cooling or air conditioning service to keep your home safe and healthy! At Ace Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re a top provider of residential and commercial HVAC solutions and more. With the help of industry-leading products and first-rate customer service, our licensed experts can give you the peace of mind and efficiency you deserve. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!