How to Improve Indoor Air Quality During Allergy Season

As the cold winter weather finally gives way to the warmer spring breezes, many people are starting to experience more allergy symptoms. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s best to be proactive to minimize your flare-ups while at home. One of the best ways to do this is by enhancing your house’s indoor air quality.

Upgrade Your Air Filter

One of the easiest ways to boost your indoor air quality is to upgrade your existing air filter for your HVAC system. All air filters will have a MERV rating, which describes their ability to actively remove contaminants from the air. Filters with a higher rating are more capable of removing contaminants and improving your air quality than those with a lower rating. Ideally, you’ll want an HVAC filter with a rating between 10 and 13 to offer optimal filtration without affecting the performance of your air conditioning system.

Extended Media Filter

If you want to take it a step further, you can install an extended media filter inside of your HVAC system’s return ducting. This works very similarly to your HVAC filter, where it traps unwanted airborne particles in its fibers that you’ll eventually dispose of. An extended media filter has multiple individual filters that all focus on removing different airborne contaminants from your home. You can even purchase filters with activated charcoal, which will remove unwanted odors from your house.

UV Sanitizing Technology

Another option is to invest in UV sanitizing technology. There are two different styles of this technology: air sanitizing and coil sanitizing. Air sanitizing lights sit within the return ducting and treat air as it travels through the ductwork. Coil sanitizing lights sit over the evaporator coil inside of your indoor air handler unit and work to treat the air and any mold or mildew growth on the coil. Unlike traditional filtration systems, UV sanitizing technology uses a special germicidal light to disrupt the DNA of unwanted airborne toxins. This prevents them from reproducing and ultimately causes them to die.

Whole-Home Dehumidifier

Humidity can create a real problem when it comes to allergy season. When humidity levels are too high, mold and mildew growth are more prominent. Dust mites and other pest activity will also increase. The effects of these increases can create more allergens within your indoor air that can negatively affect your allergies. Controlling the humidity level inside of your home can significantly help reduce your flare-ups. You can do this with a whole-home dehumidification system, where you can set your desired indoor humidity level via your thermostat. Indoor humidity levels should be between 30% and 50%

Sealing Up Your Home

One problem that can significantly impact the air quality in your home is air leaks on your exterior walls. It’s common over time for air gaps to open up around door and window frames. If you’re not working every season to actively seal these up, air from outside that’s contaminated with allergens can seep into your house. This can drastically reduce the quality of air in your home. One of the best ways to avoid this problem is to seal off any air leaks on your exterior walls. You can use products like caulking, weather stripping, or even spray foam.

Indoor Air Quality Testing

If you’re truly serious about increasing the quality of air inside of your home to reduce your allergy symptoms during the spring, it can be helpful to get an indoor air quality assessment. This is where one of our professionals will come into all the different rooms of your home and test the air quality throughout.

We’ll let you know what known contaminants are in high concentrations so that you understand what’s affecting your air quality. Some common indoor air pollutants include VOCs, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. This can help you make a better-informed decision about which products are going to be ideal for boosting your indoor air quality. Plus, it’s best to follow up with a second air quality assessment a few months after implementing new devices to see how they’re working to improve your indoor air quality.

Reliable Indoor Air Quality Service

Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling Inc. offers reliable indoor air quality service to the Downers Grove, IL community. We can also assist with all of your air purification, whole-home dehumidification, and AC maintenance needs. Call our friendly office staff today to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable technicians.