Keeping Your Air Allergen-Free Even With Pets
- By Admin
- •
- 11 Dec, 2017
Pets can be difficult to manage. Even people without allergies can occasionally find themselves getting stuffy if there are too many pets in a house. Pets are one of the largest contributors to poor air quality, as both fur and dander can collect in the air. But there are things you can do to improve your air quality.
Change Your Filters Faster
Many people recommend that you should change your home air filter every 90 days or so. But if you have a dog or a cat, the frequency goes up to every 60 days. And if you have multiple pets, you might want to change your filters every month.
Filters collect fur in your house, and if your filter collects too much dirt, the HVAC system will start distributing that dirt through your vents again. If the filter collects too much fur, this blockage will overtax your system, as your system will have to pump air through a filthy filter. Altogether, you'll actually save money on energy by keeping your filters clear and your system efficient.
Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Air ducts collect dirt and fur over time. Dirt and fur end up trapped in corners and on snags inside of your duct work and consequently continue to harm your air quality. An HVAC technician can clean your ducts with a commercial machine, which will blow out all of the trapped dust and dirt and then clean the air via a filter.
This filter can pick up everything from very large things (such as pests and cockroaches) to very small things (such as fine dust that you might not otherwise be able to capture).
This filter can pick up everything from very large things (such as pests and cockroaches) to very small things (such as fine dust that you might not otherwise be able to capture).
An annual duct cleaning is a good way to ensure that your system as a whole is clean and that it makes your air smell fresh and clean. As part of an air duct cleaning, the technician will sanitize and spray the air ducts, an act that will reduce the chances of the growth of bacteria, mold and fungus - all of which are allergens. You should clean your air ducts about once a year.
Don't Shave Your Pets
Contrary to popular belief, it isn't just the fur of an animal that produces allergens. Many allergens are found in the skin and saliva. As a result, shaving your animal can actually make the air-quality situation worse, as their skin will end up shedding more frequently when they have less hair.
Many animals also cannot regulate heat very well without their fur. Dogs with double-coats in particular need both coats to keep themselves cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Instead of shaving your pets, you can have them bathed and groomed, but you need to use the right products. Using the wrong products could cause their skin to dry out, which will cause more allergens to disperse into the air. A groomer can help you.
Instead of shaving your pets, you can have them bathed and groomed, but you need to use the right products. Using the wrong products could cause their skin to dry out, which will cause more allergens to disperse into the air. A groomer can help you.
Get Your Air Quality Tested
If you feel as though your allergies have gotten worse, the problem may not be you: it might be your environment. You can get an air-quality test to see how bad the air quality is in your home. An air-quality test will give you a breakdown of the allergens in your air, including any potentially harmful things such as mold or fungus. You can then use this information to improve the quality of your air.
Having allergies or being sensitive to dust and dander doesn't mean that you can't have pets - it just means you need to put some extra work into keeping your home dust and dander free. Having the right air-purification system can help. Contact Air Supply if you want to learn more about keeping your home safe and free of allergens.