It was a long winter in the Dayton area, but warmer weather is here or nearly so. If you suffer from spring allergies, however, you may not feel much joy at the prospect of higher temperatures. Fortunately, you can do a few things to improve your indoor air quality. Follow these tips to help you breathe easier this spring.
- Check your HVAC system’s air filter monthly and replace it when it’s dirty. Your air filter removes particles such as pollen, mold spores, animal dander and other allergens from your air. Check the specs of your unit and choose an air filter of the highest quality that your system will accommodate.
- Clean without chemicals and fragrances. Chemicals and fragrances in household cleaners can aggravate allergy symptoms and cause a number of respiratory problems. Use one of the many available chemical- and fragrance-free brands of cleaners on the market today.
- Wash your bedding weekly in hot water to kill dust mites and remove their highly allergenic cast skins and droppings. While your bedding washes, vacuum your mattress thoroughly.
- Dust with a microfiber cloth to pick up dust rather than simply move it around.
- Turn your thermostat fan to ON while you vacuum, and leave it on for 15 minutes afterwards. Doing so will help remove allergens that are kicked into the air by the vacuum exhaust and agitators.
- Vacuum twice a week. Don’t forget the upholstery and underneath furniture.
- Cut down on clutter. Clutter such as knickknacks on your shelves and magazines on your coffee table collect dust and make cleaning more difficult.
- Remove your shoes when you enter your home to avoid distributing allergens such as pollen and mold spores around your house.
- Use portable air cleaners or a whole-house air cleaner to help remove particles that your HVAC filter misses.
- Have a UV light system installed in your HVAC ductwork to kill bacteria, mold spores and other biological contaminants.
For more expert advice about improving your indoor air quality this spring, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc., family owned and serving the Dayton and Springfield areas for three generations.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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