Allergy season is among us and some of us are desperate to find a solution fast! You may not realize that your home plays host to not only you and your family members but also a wide variety of bacteria and other contaminants. So, it’s important to pay attention to the indoor air quality to keep your allergies to the minimum, especially if you have asthma. In this article, we discuss how indoor air quality affects your allergies in Sacramento and how you can minimize them.[vc_custom_heading text=”Signs of Poor Indoor Air Quality” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]A rise in asthma and allergy incidents. If you have a member of your household who suffers from asthma or other respiratory/allergy issues you’ll notice the increase in episodes. This is a telltale sign that the indoor air quality has worsened. Pet dander, dust, pollen, and other contaminants have accumulated within the home, and that is why more asthma attacks or allergies are being triggered.
An increase in cold and flu episodes. Poor indoor air quality isn’t bad for only people with existing respiratory system conditions. Poor indoor air quality also affects those without asthma or allergies. For example, your family members may be more prone to developing colds and flu if the quality of the indoor air is poor. This is because the contaminants in the air irritate the respiratory system and trigger the flu-like symptoms witnessed. Such affected family members may be surprised to observe that their symptoms cease or reduce once they are out of the home. The experienced HVAC professionals at Clarke & Rush explain that such an observation is one of the simplest ways for you to tell that you have indoor air quality issues at home.[vc_single_image image=”813″ img_size=”large”]
How to Prevent Asthma and Allergies Attacks in Your Home
Monitor the Levels of Humidity
One of the ways to limit the growth of mold and other biological matter in your home is by regulating the level of humidity. This can be done by installing a dehumidifier as well as installing a fan to dry the bathroom after someone has taken a shower.
Replace AC Filters Regularly
Sacramento air conditioning service technicians advise that homeowners stay on top of replacing the air filters in their air conditioning systems if they want to keep the indoor air quality good. Air filters do a lot of work to extract the different contaminants, such as pollen and pet dander, found in the air circulating within homes and other properties.
Clarke & Rush also advises homeowners to upgrade to air filters which are more efficient, if the home is at a higher risk of indoor air quality challenges. For example, a home with several pets may need a more efficient air filter than another home without pets.
Schedule Professional AC Maintenance
It is also important to have your air conditioning system serviced by a professional twice each year. Ideally, these service visits should be scheduled at the start of the cooling season and at the start of the heating season. During a service call, the Sacramento air conditioning service and repair professional will check all the AC components to confirm that they are working in accordance with their design specifications. The expert will also check the ductwork to ascertain that there are no leaks which are allowing contaminants to get into the living spaces. Fixing any leaks will significantly improve the indoor air quality and lower asthma and allergies issues.
Be Meticulous about Cleanliness
Cleaning the home, especially the bedrooms is a very important part of keeping allergies and asthma in check. Why the bedrooms? People spend more time in their bedrooms than in any other part of the home. Consequently, the quality of the air in the bedroom is instrumental in one’s health. The best HVAC companies in Sacramento encourage homeowners to keep pets out of bedrooms, cover pillows and mattresses with hypoallergenic covers as well as for opting for hard floors instead of carpeting in bedrooms.
Keep Pests at Bay
Pests, such as cockroaches and rodents, can worsen allergies and asthma when they shed their coatings or leave droppings and urine in the home. Taking steps to keep your home pest-free can, therefore, help to improve the indoor air quality. Measures, like installing insect screens on doors and windows, sealing cracks in walls, keeping all garbage in tightly covered bins and cleaning up food spills quickly, can make your home less appealing to pests.
Avoid Carbon Monoxide and Smoke
If you don’t already have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home, get them as soon as possible. Additionally, decree that no form of smoking should take place within the home because secondhand smoke is a major trigger for asthma and allergies. Clarke & Rush also recommends that you avoid or minimize how often you burn wood within your home so that you cut down on the amount of smoke in the home.
Keep Volatile Organic Compounds Out
That new coat of paint, that pristine furniture you just bought and many other household items may be the reason why the indoor air quality in your home is poor. Many manufactured products emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can aggravate or trigger respiratory problems and other allergic reactions. So, it is wise for you to do some research and only buy products which don’t have any or have low levels of VOCs. The labels of such products usually stipulate “low-VOCs” or “no VOCs”.
There are many other measures which can be implemented in order to improve the indoor air quality in your home if the suggestions above don’t yield the results which you want. Many of the other measures, such as improving the ventilation of your home, require professional expertise. Contact us for help in assessing how your HVAC system can be used to improve the indoor air quality.[vc_custom_heading text=”PURIFY YOUR AIR WITH HALO. CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE!” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”2298″ img_size=”large” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://clarkerushold.wpengine.com/halo-whole-home-air-purification-system/”][vc_separator border_width=”3″ css=”.vc_custom_1592257310412{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}”]
