Do you spend every day just waiting for the summer allergies of Macon, Georgia to hit? You deserve to enjoy spending time in a healthy home without having to worry about allergens ruining your day. The good news is that you can take control of your indoor air quality today by starting a few simple habits. Maintaining a healthy home during the summer is as simple as maintaining a clean home and keeping up on HVAC TLC. Here’s how you can use simple and affordable tips to keep a healthy home this summer.
Check Allergens at the Door
Many allergens and irritants make their way indoors on the clothes and shoes of everyone who enters your home. Anything from dust, dirt, insects, germs and other unwelcome guests can find their way in right through your front door. Placing a large mat at exterior doors helps occupants and visitors to get rid of some of the contaminants.
Allergens also find ways in through gaps that often form between your front door and its door frame. Even when the door is closed, allergens are floating right into your home where they become a part of your airflow. Some simple weatherstripping along the door frame should fix that issue.
Keep Your Home Clean
This may seem like a given, but its importance cannot be overstated. When we think of cleaning the house, we often think of the simple, regular tasks: do the dishes, vacuum, dust, organize, things like that. The often neglected parts of the house are the ones that need the most attention. For example, the dust and other allergens that collect on blinds, curtains, drapes, and around window sill. All of these examples constitute an indoor air quality issue and need to be cleaned regularly.
Vacuuming heavy traffic areas also helps to improve indoor air quality. Have you noticed that your once-light carpet has become darker over the years? That’s because dirt is settling in and your vacuum isn’t pulling it all up. Making the investment to clean your carpets every year or so will decrease the amount of dust and dirt that becomes embedded.
Pay special attention to the areas around your air vents, heat registers, and air conditioning unit. Dust, dirt, and debris not only reduce your indoor air quality, but your air conditioner’s efficiency will also take a hit. Make sure to keep these areas especially clean. When cleaning, however, don’t use chemical cleaners, since they will only further reduce your IAQ. Turn to some organic cleaners instead.
Make a Habit of HVAC Maintenance
HVAC maintenance is well worth the investment. Your air conditioning unit plays a significant role in the quality of your indoor air. Your AC’s air filter catches particles and prevents them from becoming a part of your home’s airflow. This filter should be replaced with a clean or new filter as recommended by the manufacturer.
Professional HVAC maintenance ensures that your system is running properly. And a properly running HVAC system is not only more energy efficient, but it also does a better job of maintaining a healthy air quality. If the air quality in your home continues to decline, professional HVAC technicians can even install a whole-home air purifier for more effective air cleaning and allergen removal. Too much humidity causing mold spores to thrive in your home? Have a technician install a whole-home dehumidifier. These solutions and more are available by turning to your local HVAC professionals.
By making a habit out of these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to breathing easier and improving the efficiency of your system. Fortunately, apart from seeing your indoor air quality and health improve, your utility bills will also decrease. For more tips about maintaining healthy air quality or for professional assistance with improving overall air conditioning efficiency, give Pruett Air Conditioning a call today at 478-225-4921.
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