After the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we want to stress about is respiratory health. But allergy season has other plans.
Welcome back to the season of sneezing and sniffling, itchy noses and watery eyes!
Is there a way to keep these symptoms at bay, at least in your home?
Thankfully, there is!
Installing an air conditioner in your home is one of the most popular ways to ease your seasonal allergies and improve your indoor air quality. But simply installing an air conditioner isn’t enough.
If you don’t keep up with your air conditioner maintenance, your symptoms could worsen.
Find out how regular HVAC maintenance can help control your allergies this spring!
Spring Allergy Season in Your Home
When we think of seasonal allergies, we think of the outdoor allergens encountered on a walk or driving by a field with the windows down:
a) Grass pollen and
b) Ragweed.
But spring can unearth a myriad of other allergies, like those that appear in our homes.
Common Allergens In Your Home:
- Dust Mites
- Pollen
- Pet Dander
- Mould
- Irritating Fibres in Fabrics and Carpets
- Smoke and Gasses ( from cooking, smoking, the hot water heater, the wood-burning furnace etc.)
Installing an air conditioner can help reduce your symptoms by:
a) Filtering out harmful allergens like pollen and dust, and
b) Regulating humidity levels.
But, as we said before, the allergy-reducing success of your air conditioner is only as good as its maintenance schedule.
When was the last time you booked an air conditioner maintenance appointment?
If your allergy symptoms have worsened this spring, we might know why…
Improving Your Indoor Air Quality And Humidity Control With Air Conditioner Maintenance
If your air conditioner isn’t properly maintained, your allergy symptoms may intensify.
Why?
Instead of filtering out the harmful allergens or preventing the growth of harmful bacteria, your air conditioner is circulating these allergens throughout your home!
Below are six air conditioner maintenance tips to help improve your indoor air and reduce the presence of allergens.
Replace Your Air Conditioner Filter.
If you tell us you’re experiencing heightened allergy symptoms, the first thing we’re going to ask you is, “when was the last time you changed your air filters?”.
Ideally, you should change your air conditioning and ventilation filters every 90 days. If you have no pets, live alone and do not suffer from allergies, you can stretch this to 6-12 months!
But if you have family, pets or allergies, we recommend replacing your air filter more often. In fact, for optimal efficiency and allergen reduction, every 20-45 days is your best bet.
Clean Your Indoor And Outdoor Air Conditioner Units.
‘Tis the season for spring cleaning!
Do you not think your air conditioner needs cleaning? Think again!
Clearing away the debris and grime from your indoor and outdoor air conditioning units can help:
- Improve airflow
- Increase efficiency
- Enhance cooling performance
- Reduce energy consumption
- Extend the system’s operating life
- Promote better ventilation.
And with better ventilation comes increased fresh, filtered air – meaning you can breathe easier!
Schedule a Professional Duct Cleaning.
See Our Duct Cleaning Packages Here
Although your air conditioner ducts hide from view, they are far from insignificant in reducing allergens in your home.
In the case of allergens, what you can’t see can actually hurt you!
As you’ve heard us mention time and again, your air ducts are essentially the lungs of your home. If these airways are dirty or dusty, so will the air you breathe in be.
How does that sound for your allergies?
Probably not good!
That’s why we encourage our homeowners to have their ductwork regularly cleaned.
Duct cleaning ensures that your air conditioner distributes clean air throughout your home – rather than picking up dust and debris along its path to you.
Regulate Your Indoor Humidity levels
Not too long ago, we posted an article discussing the Ideal Winter Indoor Air Humidity Levels for Your Family’s Health, Comfort and Home Safety.
We talked about finding the healthiest humidity balance in your home and how to regulate those levels from season to season.
In that article, you’ll find that the humidity levels in your home should be between 40 and 60 per cent all year-round. But, if you want to prevent mould and dust mites from growing in your home, your humidity levels should never be above 50%.
To help control the humidity in your home, we recommend using a smart thermostat. This thermostat helps regulate humidity levels and prevent the growth of potential allergens.
Keep Your Air Conditioner Running Regularly.
Although we would never ask you to keep your air conditioner running 24/7, we would recommend that you cycle it on regularly. At least 15 minutes a day.
This short cycle will help ventilate your home, regulate your humidity levels and remove allergens from your indoor air.
Other HVAC Upgrades That Can Help Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Want to invest in better air quality for your home? Our sister company, CleanAir Solutions, can help!
Install Better Ventilation.
See Our Air Ventilation Products Here
Install a Whole-House Humidifier.
See Our Humidifier Products Here
Install an Air Filtration System.
See Our Air Filtration Products Here
Replace an Outdated Air Conditioning System.
Browse Our Air Conditioner Selection Here
Schedule Your Spring Air Conditioner Maintenance Visit With Shipton’s Heating and Cooling
Are your allergy symptoms dampening your excitement for spring? It’s time to give your air conditioner a tune-up!
Shipton’s Heating and Cooling in Hamilton, Ontario, has been in the air conditioning industry since 1924. Contact us today to book your AC repair, maintenance or new installation!
You can reach us at (289) 203-4616 or visit us online!
