If you are allergic to dust, pollen or other contaminants, spending time in your own home can be a challenge. This is because homes can be a breeding ground for these and other pollutants. However, by engaging in consistent and proactive HVAC maintenance, it may be possible to make your house a healthier environment for yourself and others who live there.
Clean the Furnace and Condenser Unit
The first step in creating a healthy and safe environment is to clean the furnace. This is the HVAC component that is responsible for shuttling air to every room in the house. If the furnace is not free of contaminants, it won’t matter how much effort you put into cleaning ducts or vents. Cleaning the condenser unit can be helpful as it can get covered in pollen, dust or other outdoor pollutants. Therefore, it can potentially send contaminated outdoor air into your home where you’ll likely come into contact with it.
Schedule Regular Duct Maintenance
Ideally, you will have your ducts cleaned every three to five years. However, you can do this more frequently if you are sensitive to dust, mold or other contaminants. Sealing your ducts may be an attractive alternative to regular cleanings as it can actively keep a significant amount of dust or debris from getting inside of them.
Furthermore, you may minimize or prevent air loss, which can inflate your heating and cooling bills. Cleaning or sealing ducts can also prevent moisture issues, which can result in mold or mildew growth. Even if you aren’t allergic to mold or mildew, it can still make it hard to breathe or potentially exacerbate any other allergy symptoms you might experience.
The team at GVEC Air Conditioning & Heating in Schertz, Seguin, Cuero and surrounding areas can install new ducts in your home. This can be ideal if they are damaged because of old age, pest issues or other factors.
Make Sure Air Vents Are Accounted For
If vents are not clean, you could still run into issues with contaminated air despite your efforts elsewhere. Fortunately, they tend to be the easiest components to clean as they are relatively small and tend to be readily accessible.
Typically, they can be cleaned with a traditional duster or with a small vacuum. You can wear a mask, gloves and goggles to reduce the risk of inhaling something that could irritate your lungs or skin.
You can also keep vents clean by making sure that other indoor spaces are kept clean. For instance, dusting and sweeping regularly can prevent dust from getting into vents and other HVAC components.
Other Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality
You can help keep your HVAC system clean by having the outside of your home power washed every couple of years. Doing so can prevent pollen or other pollutants from sticking to the side of your house and making their way inside. Washing interior and exterior windows can also help to prevent dirt, pollen or dust from having a chance to eventually get inside of vents or ducts.
Changing or cleaning air filters as directed can also help to improve indoor air quality and reduce allergy symptoms. Furnace air filters should ideally be cleaned or changed every 90 depending on the size and quality. Failing to do so can result in contaminants being rejected by a clogged filter and floating, not to mention reducing your HVAC system’s efficiency.
If you need HVAC maintenance services, don’t hesitate to call GVEC Air Conditioning & Heating today! Our convenient HVAC Spec Check maintenance program or our as-scheduled Check-N-Save visits can help keep your system running efficiently and help identify and correct small issue before they become costly big problems. In addition to HVAC services, we provide indoor air quality solutions, install ductless systems or install a new heat pump if you need one. Let us help you make your home a place of comfort.
