How Your Energy Efficient Home Could be Making Your Allergy Symptoms Worse
It’s springtime in Southern California and that means your allergy symptoms have likely already begun.
And while it may seem your house should be a shelter from the many allergens outside, your energy efficient home could actually be making your allergy symptoms worse.
Why Energy Efficient Homes Are an Indoor Air Quality Problem
Energy efficient homes today are built tightly; they are sealed to prevent air leaks in ducts, walls, ceilings, doors and windows.
This is great during the summer because it reduces your air conditioning bills by keeping more of your air conditioned air in your home. But the lack of natural ventilation also means worsened allergy symptoms for many Southern California homeowners.
You see, sources of indoor air pollution are all through your home. Then, once the pollutants are inside, they have no way out because your home is sealed for energy efficiency.
How to Improve Your Energy Efficient Home’s Indoor Air Quality
It would seem then, that it is not possible to have both an energy efficient home and healthy indoor air.
But that’s not true. You can “have your cake and eat it, too” in this situation. Here are a few ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality without sacrificing energy efficiency.
Open windows
If it seems your allergy symptoms always get worse when in your home, take advantage of the nice spring weather and ventilate your home by opening up doors and windows. Of course, this should be avoided on high-pollen and high-pollution days.
Dust
You can stir up pollutants that aggravate allergies every time you move furniture. Dust your home with a damp cloth, which will pick up the allergens, rather than a dry duster that may just brush the dirt back into the air.
Vacuum
Your carpet, drapes and upholstery are storing countless numbers of contaminants that can make allergy symptoms unbearable. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter will help remove these indoor air quality pollutants from your home.
Upgrade your air filter
The standard air filter in your home’s heating and air conditioning system only removes large airborne contaminants. Since most allergy-aggravating pollutants can get through a standard filter, you can improve your indoor air quality by upgrading to a better filter.
Install a UV lamp
Bacteria, mold and other fungi are common causes of worsened allergy symptoms. A UV light installed within your heating and cooling system kills these contaminants and keeps them from spreading.
If you follow these tips, springtime doesn’t have to mean insufferable allergy symptoms in your energy efficient home.
Service Champions is the leading air conditioning company in Orange, LA, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Whether you need help making your home more efficient or improving its indoor air quality (or both), we can help. Contact us online for more information.