Allergens & Your Indoor Air Quality: How to Help

Furnaces

Springtime and summer signal the emergence of allergens every year. But did you know that allergens, like dust and pet hair, can find ways into your ...

Posted by Ryan | June 27, 2022

Springtime and summer signal the emergence of allergens every year. But did you know that allergens, like dust and pet hair, can find ways into your home during any season?

Without the help of air filtration systems, you could risk keeping these particles locked in your house all year long. Allergens contribute to runny noses and itchy, irritated eyes for you and your whole family.

Breathing happily at home is all about indoor air quality (IAQ). Let’s take a look at common allergens, their sources, and what you can do to keep your home allergy-free.

Indoor Allergens: Where Do They Come From?

When we think of allergens, some everyday things that come to mind include dust, pet hair, and pollen. Most of us are aware if we have allergy sensitivities and try to avoid the source. But you can slow down the effects allergens have on your health in ways beyond taking more medication.

Allergens can embed themselves into your home without your knowledge and rest during the “allergy off-season.” These are known as indoor allergens. Some common places for these allergens to settle are:

Bedding
Stuffed toys
Indoor plants
Mattresses without allergen covers
Pillows
Damp areas
Soft or fabric furniture

Table showing airborne allergens in Alberta

Air Quality Systems & How They Prevent Indoor Allergens

Keeping allergens out of your home isn't always as simple as just shutting the windows. Allergens can enter your home through the front door when you do. And they may be infiltrating your indoor air through vents and flues in various parts of your home. If you have pets, then allergens are a constant threat.

If you live in Alberta, chances are you have a furnace, and your indoor air is circulating through your home's duct system. Enhancing your air quality system can help kill allergens before they are distributed to other parts of your home.

UV-C Air Purification

UV-C purification systems help reduce contaminants and odours from your air. These devices are installed directly into your HVAC system. With the help of EverCarbon cell filters, they can remove dust and other allergens from the air you breathe.

As the air circulates around your home, contaminants are trapped in the filter, where they are treated with UV light. This UV light removes air impurities but has no dangerous effects on breathing. A whole-home UV-C purifier can be a blessing for your allergies.

Whole-Home Humidifiers

Another fantastic way to help reduce the effect allergens have on your life is by increasing air moisture content. Humidifiers help soothe sinus passages irritated by allergies, but it’s essential to clean your humidifier system regularly.

Very humid climates are ideal for mites and mould to thrive. But Albertans rarely need to worry about high relative humidity levels. As long as humidifiers are periodically maintained, the benefits outweigh any increased risks.

The Generalaire Whole-Home 570A Humidifier system is easy to use and maintain, requiring a humidifier pad replacement every 1 or 2 years. On top of this, the system comes with a 10-year warranty.

The Generalaire Elite series of steam humidifiers can easily connect to your current HVAC system. This provides humidity to your entire home without purchasing equipment to move around each room.

HEPA Air Filters

HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters can be used in your air filtration system to catch allergy-causing particles like pet hair, dust mites, and smoke before being cycled back into your air. Because HEPA filters carry the highest MERV rating among residential air filters, this upgrade is recommended for any family with allergy concerns.

Combine a HEPA filter with our Goldman DMH900 Whole-House HEPA Air Cleaner, and rest assured harmful allergens are caught before you breathe them in.

Quick Tips for Reducing Allergens in Your Home

Protecting yourself from allergens takes a unified front. Combining air quality systems with some good old-fashioned housekeeping allows you to enjoy your home without allergens putting a damper on your day.

Some allergy prevention tips include:

Vacuuming twice a week.
Use dehumidifiers in overly humid areas like the bathroom or kitchen.
Keep doors and windows closed, especially those close to plants that produce pollen.
Keep plants and outdoors as much as possible.
Brush and clean your pets often.
Using allergen-resistant covers on mattresses and pillows.

Get an Annual Duct Cleaning

If you’ve been running a heating or cooling system in your home without added IAQ technology, there may be allergens resting in your ducts. All climate-controlled air passes through your ductwork, so keeping these clean is essential too!

Scheduling a professional duct cleaning every year is one of the best ways to ensure the air you breathe is clean and allergen-free. It’s a great way to prepare your family for a sneeze-free summer!

Get in touch with the Action Furnace team to schedule a duct cleaning. And please contact our indoor air quality specialists for any questions about reducing allergens in your home.