Stop Kicking Up Dust and Other Allergens in Your Home
Your home’s indoor air quality is dramatically influenced by the presence of various indoor air pollutants, such as harmful chemicals, pollen, tobacco smoke, dust and animal dander. High amounts of dust and other allergens may cause headaches, nausea or nasal congestion and can aggravate some health conditions, such as asthma and allergies. There are several ways to improve your indoor air quality and create a healthy and comfortable environment. Here are some measures you can take to keep dust at bay and start inhaling cleaner air:
- Clean or replace air filters – in time, the air filters in your air conditioning system will collect dust and other allergens that can trigger allergic reactions and health problems. To minimize the amount of dust in your home, you should replace or clean these filters once a month.
- Take your shoes off before entering your home – by leaving your shoes at the door, you reduce the dust and debris that comes from the outdoors.
- Seal the air leaks – dust-filled air can also enter your home through air leaks. Areas that may feature cracks and gaps that create air leaks in your home include doors and window frames, attic hatches and electrical outlets. These areas can be sealed to prevent air infiltration.
- Seal duct air leaks – air leaks that are present in areas such as the return duct can cause dust to be circulated throughout your house. Sealing duct air leaks will not only reduce dust and humidity but also prevent the loss of cool or warm conditioned air, increasing the efficiency of your A/C system.
- Check your clothes dryer vent – make sure the vent is positioned directly to the outside. Make sure it’s free of any obstructions such as lint, and clean it if necessary. If the vent duct has suffered too much damage, opt for a metal one instead.
For more expert advice on improving your indoor air quality, don’t hesitate to contact us today at Sobieski Services. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).
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