Managing Asthma and Allergies With Your HVAC System
Allergens are common in Sarasota, Florida, causing a number of symptoms among local residents. If you’re battling allergies or asthma, you can improve the quality of the air you breathe in your home with your HVAC system. Making a few changes to the way you maintain and operate the cooling system can make a difference in the air quality.
Upgrade the Air Filter
The filter within your HVAC system is one of the first lines of defense against contaminants in your indoor air. As air moves through the filter, particles get trapped. As a result, they don’t enter the ductwork and worsen the quality of the air you breathe. Upgrading your filter to a higher minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating is a good idea, especially if you or anyone in your home suffers from asthma or allergies.
A filter with a higher MERV rating can filter smaller particles from the air, resulting in a cleaner atmosphere that can lessen symptoms like congestion, sore throats, coughing and eye irritation. You should replace the filter every month or two for maximum effectiveness.
Manage Humidity Levels
Indoor humidity can also increase allergy symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to use your central air conditioning system to remove excess moisture from the air. If you’re struggling with too much indoor moisture, the risk of biological growth increases, which can cause respiratory problems. A dehumidifier can help you achieve an ideal balance between 40 and 60 percent humidity in your home.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Your HVAC system also needs regular maintenance to operate efficiently and manage indoor air quality. During an annual tune-up, one of our experienced service technicians will inspect the unit and make sure it’s working properly. We can also recommend other additions like air cleaners that can help decrease the presence of contaminants and improve the quality of the air you breathe.
Manage your asthma and allergies with our indoor air quality solutions. Contact Custom Air & Plumbing today by calling (866) 819-0992 to learn more.
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