Protect Yourself From Allergies With These 3 Tips

If you have allergies, you might have noticed that going outside seems to help. If that’s the case, it’s because Mount Pleasant homes are tightly sealed these days, and according to the EPA, the lack of ventilation can cause high levels of indoor air pollution. How can you protect yourself if the cause of your allergies is inside instead of out? Here are three tips that might give you some relief:

1. Have Your Ductwork Inspected

Contaminants in the ducts of your home’s HVAC system may be causing an allergic reaction. Irritants like dander, pet hair, pollen and dust mites may have collected there and are blowing into your home whenever your HVAC turns on. If your home is tightly sealed, these contaminants have nowhere to go and can become highly concentrated. Some Mount Pleasant HVAC contractors perform duct cleaning service using state-of-the-art tools to clear away allergens.

2. Check Your HVAC Air Filters

Clogged and dirty filters cannot trap allergens because they are already loaded with grit. Instead, a dirty filter will blow its contents into the air you breathe. If your filters are clean, consider using filters with a higher MERV rating. Most HVAC systems use filters with a MERV of 8, but you can purchase filters with a higher MERV that are more effective at trapping airborne particles.

3. Schedule an HVAC Tuneup

HVAC systems should receive preventive maintenance every year. Otherwise, they will collect a lot of grit and gunk which invades indoor air and can make allergic reactions worse. Tuneups include thorough equipment cleaning. When all the dirt has been removed, it will no longer be circulating in your home.

Another way to improve Mount Pleasant indoor air quality is with an air cleaner. These units can trap up to 99.9 percent of airborne allergens, and they are easy and safe to use. To learn more about other high-tech air purification systems, visit Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing or call 903-285-6550.