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3 Easy Steps to Keep Your HVAC System Clean

There is nothing more annoying than allergies. Scratchy, red, irritated eyes, a stuffy or runny nose and an itchy throat can make it hard for you to live your life to the fullest . Although allergies have many causes, the typical culprits are airborne: pollen, mold, dust mites or pet dander. To alleviate these annoying symptoms, or prevent more serious asthma or allergic reactions, cleaning your home’s HVAC system at the change of the seasons is the key to easy breathing.

Keeping your HVAC unit clean will cut down on new allergens entering your home’s atmosphere, and remove allergens already there. Below are three easy tips and tricks to keep your HVAC system components in tip-top shape and to minimize airborne irritants. If your HVAC requires more thorough cleaning, hiring an HVAC maintenance contractor is an excellent alternative to doing the job yourself.

Step One: Dust, Dust, Dust!

If you’re like most people, when you dust your home you concentrate on all the horizontal surfaces: table tops, counters, picture frames, window ledges, etc. But when you dust, it is imperative that you clean the air vents and registers in each room as well. By taking a wet or treated cloth with you and wiping down the register or vent in each room as you go, you will prevent from blowing just more dust into your room. Using a damp rag for your dusting prevents launching the dust and mites back into the air.

Step Two: Inspect the Perimeter

Take a look at the exposed ducting, the condensate drip pans or drains, air handler and evaporator coils every few weeks. You want to keep an eye out for any sign of mold growing. Mold thrives in warm, moist, dark environments and without proper maintenance, your HVAC system can be mold paradise. Make sure there is no pooling water or excess condensation on, or around, your HVAC components and that all drains are draining properly. Mold is not only an allergy irritant, certain strains can cause serious illness.

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Step Three: Remove Clutter and Debris

Just as you want to ensure mold isn’t building up around your air handling and cooling components, you also want to eliminate other allergens or irritants. Check all around your outside unit, as this is where the air that circulates inside your home originally comes from. Also make sure that you check around your indoor components, any dust or debris piles up around the air intakes can cause pollutants to be pulled into your home’s atmosphere, irritating eyes and lungs. Sweep, dust or vacuum all around your units at least once a month if not more to help prevent allergy attacks.

Bonus: An Ounce Of Prevention

Taking preventative measures will do wonders to keep your HVAC system in excellent working order and will keep you sneeze-free. Keep an HVAC checklist handy while inspecting your HVAC system. Check your furnace air filters monthly and never go more than three months without replacing them. Look for high quality filters, with a MERV rating of at least 8 to trap microscopic irritants and allergens. The higher quality filters will come with a higher price tag, but what price can you put on the air quality in your home?

HVAC Maintenance Now Saves Big Headaches Later

Any time you feel like your allergies are flaring up, the first thing you should do is thoroughly check your HVAC system. With a little bit of knowledge and regular HVAC maintenance, you can keep the air in your home clear so that you and your family can breath easy.

 

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