01 Mar How to Remove Allergens from Home
What are home allergies?
You may not see them, but you can feel them. The most common home allergens are airborne dust particles, dust mites, pet dander, and mold. Everyone experiences allergies differently, but symptoms typically include runny noses, sneezing, and itchy eyes, which could escalate into more severe symptoms. It’s important to know how to remove allergens from home spaces to help ease the symptoms they cause.
How To Allergy-Proof Your Home
Dust mites tend to gather on bedding, furniture, and carpets and are attracted to warm damp environments. Using a vacuum with a HEPA (highly efficient particulate air) filter on surfaces every week can minimize dust build-up in your home. In addition, regularly washing your clothes, bedding, and upholstery in hot water can prevent dander and dust mite accumulation.
Replacing the carpet in your house with hard-surface flooring can also solve allergies as carpet fibers trap dust and allergens easily.
Replace Your Air Filter
The bitter cold and wet weather will make you want to keep your windows and doors shut this season. This leaves your HVAC filter responsible for preventing or spreading allergens in your space. If you suffer from allergies, a HEPA filter or a filter with a high Maintenance Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating are life-savers. You can also buy an air purifier to work with your HVAC system in eliminating indoor allergens. Remember to clean or change out filters monthly.
Adjusting to Pets and Allergies
As much as we love our furry friends, their dander can become overwhelming for those with severe allergies. Try to limit the spaces your pet has access to, like the bedroom and the kitchen, to help cut down on allergies. Even if bathing and brushing your pet weekly doesn’t sound fun, your body will thank you later. Doing these small acts helps decrease the number of allergens trapped in pet dander, dramatically improving the living experiences with your fluffy companion.
Reduce Mold Growth
Damp weather can promote mold growth, so it is important to be aware in the coming months of potential leaking areas. Mold is frequently seen in humid areas such as bathrooms, basements, and kitchens, or places where condensation is an issue. Mold spores and mildew are common indoor allergens that cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and skin. Controlling high levels of humidity is essential for your health.
Mold easily grows within evaporator coils and filters due to accumulated condensation. For this reason, it is important to maintain the coil as clean as possible. Scheduling a routine check-up is just a phone call away and can save you money down the line.
Other HVAC System Options
While routine HVAC maintenance is your best bet for the overall air quality of your home, another option to eliminate allergens from your home is with UV air purification. This system of UV lighting can help remove allergens from homes, bacteria, pet dander, and odors by up to 97 percent.
Need an HVAC Appointment? Let Quarter Moon Help!
The team at Quarter Moon Plumbing, AC, and Heating is your number one resource for all your HVAC and plumbing questions. If you would like a professional consultation on your HVAC system, schedule an appointment with Quarter Moon or call our emergency 24/7 service at (210) 651-5899. Quarter Moon offers a preventative maintenance care package that can help keep your system performing through any season! For more information, visit our services page.