As spring arrives in Maryland, the green leaves sprout and the flowers bloom. For some Davidsonville, MD, residents, this eruption of natural beauty also marks the beginning of allergy season. Addressing indoor air quality concerns in your home can provide relief from allergic reactions to dust, pollen and other contaminants that float in your air.
What’s Indoor Air Quality?
Firstly, when most people deal with an HVAC company, they think about the temperature of their homes. However, other factors affect your comfort. Indoor air quality is a measurement of the types of impurities floating in your home’s atmosphere.
If something is in your air supply, you and your loved ones are breathing it in throughout the day. Impurities range from the dust and pollen you can see floating lazily in a sunbeam to molecules of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by cleaning and beauty products.
The Effects of Poor IAQ
The symptoms of seasonal allergies are familiar. Sensitive people might have a cough, runny nose and other cold-like symptoms. These issues result from the immune system overreacting after exposure to pollen grains.
What’s more, high concentrations of VOCs lead to other problems. You might have non-specific aches and a general sense of feeling unwell. These impurities can also disrupt your sleep patterns, leading to fatigue.
Common Indoor Contaminants
You can find the substances in household dust in almost every home. Some come from the outdoors, and others come from your household occupants and include:
- Seasonal pollen grains.
- Pet dander.
- Dead skin cells.
- Hair.
- Carpet fibers.
VOCs have several sources. The concentrations of these chemicals depend on household habits and ventilation. Sources of VOCs include:
- Byproducts of cigarette smoke.
- Cleaning and beauty products.
- Degrading plastics.
- Cooking oil and smoke.
Several biological impurities can affect your air quality. Fortunately, getting control of your household humidity can lower their numbers. Some biological impurities include:
- Viruses and bacteria.
- Dust mites.
- Microbial.
Simple IAQ Improvement Steps
One of the main ways to minimize the effects of seasonal allergens is keeping them out of your home. During allergy season, you might want to do some more frequent sweeping, dusting and vacuuming. Having your family leave their shoes at the entryway will also prevent them from tracking in more dust.
For other impurities, ventilation is often the best strategy. Encourage your family members to use an exhaust fan when cooking, cleaning or spraying beauty products. If you have smokers in the family, tell them to go outdoors.
Professional IAQ Solutions
Finally, if you’re serious about handling the indoor air quality, turn to a professional HVAC company for powerful solutions. This equipment works to remove the most common sources of indoor air pollution.
For general air quality improvement, an air purifier is a strong tool. These machines use a two-step system to clear the air. First, an air filter removes most of the largest impurities. Then, a secondary system uses an electrical charge to attract and capture smaller particles.
As the temperatures warm in the spring, you may start using your air conditioner for home comfort. The moisture around the cooling coils and drain pan can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and other biological impurities. Installing a UV light system will kill these microorganisms before they can multiply.
Ventilation is crucial for removing VOCs from your air. Adding a ventilator to your HVAC system will promote an exchange of indoor and outdoor air.
High humidity not only makes your home uncomfortable but also encourages the growth of biological organisms. Installing a dehumidification system will give you control over the general moisture levels in your house. As a result, you’ll prevent microbial growth and avoid the associated health consequences.
Improve Your Well-Being by Improving Your Indoor Air Quality
Improving the indoor air quality of your home will give you peace of mind by removing the sources of allergy symptoms. The experienced team at Coastal Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. is ready to help. Contact us today to learn more about installing indoor air quality products at your home.
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