It’s great to finally have winter behind us. The days are beginning to warm up and get longer, and the temperatures are finally climbing into the 60s and higher again. The fun of barbecues, playing outside, and relaxing on the patio without freezing are all in front of us. However, it’s not all a picnic when spring finally arrives.
The warmer weather also brings with it allergens, like dust and pollen. For those sensitive to these allergens, Spring can be a time of grabbing tissues, nasal spray, and allergy medication and hoping for the best. However, these issues can be avoided by being mindful of the air quality in your house, creating an oasis in your home.
The Dangers of Poor Air Quality
Those who suffer from allergies are keenly aware of the air quality, pollen, and dust counts in the air. The quality of their daily life can vary greatly with these numbers. However, many of the effects of being around poor air quality are harder to notice but equally important.
In situations where the air quality is poor, more viruses and bacteria are found in the air, meaning sickness will spread more frequently in a house without a good air filter.
With the air quality, your skin can also be impacted, causing rashes and irritation for the very sensitive. What’s worse, is that the same air quality that’s impacting your health could also be damaging your air conditioner, cutting its lifespan and forcing it to work harder to regulate temperature in your home.
Using an Air Filter to Improve Air Quality
Thankfully, the air filter in our homes takes care of a lot of the potential allergens that can make their way into your environment. However, the system is only effective if maintained with a regular changing of those air filters. How often do they need to be changed out?
That really depends on a few factors. If you live alone or the property is a vacation home, you can get away with changing the filter just once or twice a year. However, if you have pets or are sensitive to allergies, the filter should be changed monthly.
As a general rule of thumb, your filter should be changed every quarter - but it depends greatly on the conditions specific to you and your family. If you’re unsure of what’s best, you can always consult your local HVAC contractor.
Breathe The Clean Air Deeply
With a properly maintained filtration system, there are plenty of benefits that you'll enjoy right away. Not only will you be able to avoid all the dust, pollen and other allergens you see this time of year, but there are other benefits as well.
Regularly checking and maintaining the air filter will reduce the workload on your HVAC system, increasing the energy efficiency. This will help decrease your monthly energy bill. In addition, using less energy will increase the longevity of the system, delaying the need for costly repairs. It's a win-win.
This time of year always gets us thinking about the Queen song “Another One Bites the Dust.” With all the dust swirling in the air, the classic song can't help but get stuck in your head. Thankfully, with a good and clean air system, you can avoid biting the dust. If you have any questions about your air filter, reach out to a professional at 4 Seasons Heating & Cooling by calling (775) 210-1665.