Your Guide to Indoor Air Quality in Washington, D.C.
If your allergies are acting up as the seasons change, then it could be due to the air quality in your home. Pollen, dust, dirt and other allergens are common in homes through Washington, D.C. Luckily, there are a few measures you can take to improve the indoor air quality in your home.
Signs You Have Poor Air Quality
A small sniffle may make you think you have a seasonal cold or you just picked up a temporary allergen from outside. If your sniffles become routine, then it could point to a serious problem with your indoor air quality. Runny noses, irritated eyes and coughing are all symptoms of a cold, but they may actually be due to allergens that are being carried through the air by your ducts.
Another sign that you have poor air quality is if your asthma becomes worse. Perhaps you have difficulty breathing already, and there are moments when you’re in your home that your breathing becomes more strained.
This could also be due to allergens floating in the air. They can collect in your lungs and exacerbate your asthma.
Common Allergens That Decrease Indoor Air Quality
One problem you’ll face if your home is in Washington, D.C., is road pollution. The city sees a lot of traffic. Unfortunately, the fumes from car exhaust and other pollutants can travel on the air and into your home.
Your AC system sucks in the air and then sends it throughout your home. You’re breathing in fumes without realizing it.
Besides car pollutants, you can also wind up with pollutants from the outside air. These pollutants can come from any source, such as a passing plane, a nearby factory or a water treatment plant. Anything that produces pollution has a chance of winding up in your home.
There are also seasonal allergens that can enter your home. Pollen, spores and other outdoor allergens can find their way into your home. Those with a serious predisposition for hay fever or pollen sensitivity may find that being in their own home is miserable.
Perhaps one of the biggest culprits behind poor air quality is dust. Few homeowners undergo regular duct cleaning to clear out their ducts. As a result, they have particles of dust circulating through the rooms of their home.
Solutions to Improve the Air Quality of Your Home
One of the best ways you can improve the air quality of your home is to call a professional team for duct cleaning. HVAC technicians will effectively and efficiently remove the dust clogging your ducts. As a result, you’ll have less dust floating through your home.
Another option is to have an air cleaner installed in your home. The air cleaner works by capturing allergens floating through your home. It then purifies the air to remove those allergens.
As a result, your home has fresh air that is free from both allergens and pollutants. You’ll likely notice less sneezing, coughing and runny noses, and you may have an easier time breathing.
In other cases, you may actually benefit from a humidifier. Winter can bring with it dry air.
A humidifier can bring a bit of moisture to a room. This can ease your lungs and throat, making it easier to breathe, swallow and speak.
Don’t suffer from poor indoor air quality a moment longer. Call Vernon Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. for reliable duct cleaning and professional recommendations for air cleaning systems in Washington, D.C. Our team can help improve the quality of air in your home.
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