While many people associate allergy symptoms with pollen, pollution and other irritants in the air outside your home, your internal air quality can have a large impact on your symptoms. According to the EPA, “In the last few years, a rising body of scientific evidence has specified that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the greatest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people devote approximately 90 percent of their time within a home or building. Thus, for many people, the dangers to health may be greater due to more interaction with air pollution indoors than outdoors.”
Our Portland homes are contaminated with outdoor allergens like pollen that force their way inside, and by irritants like pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, chemicals from average household products and more. So, what can you do about it? The solution is already in your home! It’s your HVAC system.
You should realize that your HVAC can be your best friend or your nemesis when it comes to controlling your allergies. A dirty system can collect and distribute allergens around your home, so the key is to keep your system operating well. First and foremost, you must keep your air filters clean. Place a reminder or indicate it on your calendar to inspect them monthly and swap them out when you see that they’re becoming dirty. They’ll usually need to be exchanged every two or three months, but this can vary significantly from household to home. You can find filters that span from the most straightforward level of filtering to hospital-grade HEPA filters. The specialists at Three Rivers Heating & Cooling can help you decide which form of filter will keep your home healthy and keep your HVAC functioning correctly.
It’s also vital to have your system regularly maintained by a professional to keep your interior air quality where it should be. In addition to checking that essential filter, your service specialist will clean the internal workings of your system and guarantee that everything is running as it should. You can also ask your specialist if a duct cleaning would be helpful.
When it comes to your indoor air quality, you can put your faith in the specialists at Three Rivers Heating & Cooling to take good care of you. On top of helping you keep your HVAC system up-to-date, we can help you ensure you have the tools you need to fight poor indoor air quality and allergens—like humidifiers and whole home air purifiers. Just give us a call at 503-213-4433 to ensure your home’s air is healthy and pure.