Summertime IAQ Concerns

During the summer months in Granbury, Texas, many residents enjoy spending more time outdoors and taking advantage of the sunny weather. However, this season also brings some concerns that can impact your home’s indoor air quality. Protect your house and the health of your family by being aware of summertime IAQ concerns and how to combat them.

Risks of Indoor Air Pollution

When thinking about pollution, many people consider the air outside that’s laden with smog and grime. However, the quality of the air in homes and office buildings is often substantially worse than anything you’ll breathe outdoors. A number of factors can decrease the quality of the air you breathe, including:

• Pollen
• Dirt
• Dust
• Chemicals from cleaning products
• Pet hair and dander
• And other debris

If you’ve installed new carpeting or bought new furniture, these can produce harmful fumes that impact your air quality as well. During the summer months, pollen levels are higher as plants bloom, releasing contaminants that make their way into your home.

Indoor air quality can make a big difference in the way you feel. Poor air quality may cause symptoms like congestion, sore throats, headaches and nosebleeds. Those who suffer from asthma and other breathing conditions may also notice that these health problems worsen.

More Outdoor Time

Since people in Granbury like to take advantage of the warmer weather, you’ll see a lot of locals outside throughout the months of June, July and August. With all the coming and going, you may track in allergens as you go in and out of the house.

Leaving your windows and doors open more frequently will also impact the air quality. These factors can all make a difference, so it’s important to take steps to try to contain allergens as much as possible and keep them outside.

Increased Allergens

As different types of plants and flowers enter their blooming season in the summer months, they can also impact the quality of your air. Even if you haven’t suffered from allergies in the other seasons, you may notice an increase in uncomfortable symptoms.

Since your air conditioning system is probably working overtime during the summer months, it constantly cycles air and pulls in allergens into your home. As a result, it’s hard to improve the air quality because the contaminants are constantly present.

If you have pets in your home, these furry friends are probably shedding more when the weather gets warmer. The fur they leave behind, along with the dander they’re shedding, can cause the air quality to decrease. Try to bathe your pets often, especially when they come in from playing outside. Brush dogs and cats frequently, and keep their coats trimmed throughout the summer months.

HVAC Solutions

One of the best ways to improve the quality of the air you breathe is to schedule a duct cleaning service. As the air moves through the air conditioner, the filter can trap some of the particles. But others will make it through and settle in the ducts. During a cleaning service, your HVAC service technician can remove the buildup of dirt, dust, pollen and other debris.

Most manufacturers recommend cleaning your ducts at least once every year or two. Not only can this service improve your air quality but it can also help the system to operate more efficiently. When the ducts get clogged with dirt, the HVAC system has to work harder to move air, which results in higher utility bills. When the system can’t run efficiently, the risk of damage to the components also increases, which can result in the need for an expensive repair.

With so many potential contaminants that can decrease the quality of the air you breathe, it’s important to keep up with duct cleanings and other critical maintenance services. Contact Airmasters AC, Heat, Plumbing & Electrical at 817-506-4862 to schedule an appointment.

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