Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can drastically reduce seasonal allergies!
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you’ve probably learned by now to take refuge indoors to help reduce the less attractive of the onset symptoms…
Unfortunately, what most people don’t know is that seeking shelter inside may actually be worse, depending on how regularly the HVAC system is maintained.
Yeah, sucks. And not literally.
By far, one of the most prevalent issues we at Superior Control Systems frequent in HVAC-related projects is the utter neglect to maintain the air ducts and air filters on a regular basis.
Honestly, this is rather puzzling to us. And frustrating.
One of the primary functions of a properly installed HVAC system is to control and optimize the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) to a regulated standard – this is kind of hard to do when your HVAC system is simply pumping all the nasty, airborne pollutants caught in its filter back into your home or office.
It’s like a counter-productive air recycling process…with pollen, dust mites, and cockroach droppings.
Yes. You read right. Dare you to take a deep breath.
You may think we’re being dramatic here, but in fact, situations in which HVAC maintenance is neglected for too long can become so severe that the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has coined a term for the detrimental result – Sick Building Syndrome.
According to AAFA.org, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
And what’s the number one cause for SBS?
Inadequate ventilation.
So, let’s swing back to the topic of indoor allergens, which typically include the three magical ingredients we mentioned earlier, plus some pet dander, skin flakes, and some good old-fashioned mold.
These particles have a nasty habit of sticking around, even in your HVAC air ducts.
Think of all the dust that accumulates on the top of your ceiling fans, or in those hard-to-reach places along your bookshelves and light fixtures – your HVAC air ducts function in a similar matter. If left neglected, these airborne particles are simply reintroduced into your home or office, and will continue to set off allergic reactions.
Knowing this, it’s not all surprising that even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claim that studies of human exposure have indicated indoor air pollution levels as being 2-5 times higher than outdoor pollutants – sometimes even up to 100!
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, schedule regular cleaning of your HVAC air ducts by professionals. The longer you permit mold and other unwanted pollutants to accumulate in your HVAC system, the more you put your health at risk to frequent exposure to these common indoor allergens. These services are widely available and are an affordable alternative to several doctor visits and prescription medications.
Routine air filter changes can also help prevent reintroduction of harmful particles into your home or office, as well as help prevent unnecessary energy usage to compensate for blocked passages. There are several different types of air filters available today, and selecting the appropriate one for your HVAC system is dependent on several key, unique factors – don’t always assume that buying the highest efficiency model is the right choice. Be a smart consumer, do your research.
Bottom line though is pretty simple: don’t be lazy.
Routine maintenance on your HVAC filter and air ducts can result in significant savings in the long run, as well as vastly improve your quality of life.
Can you think of two better immediate goals?
We can’t.
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