Indoor Air Quality & Allergies

This good weather brings on allergies from pollen, dust and other airborne pollutants. Many people retreat to their air conditioned homes for relief, only to find that symptoms persist because indoor allergens took over.

Members of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, Upstate NY Chapter, can’t help the outside air environment, but they offer these suggestions to help improve your indoor air environment:

• Change or clean the filter regularly! Common supermarket filters should be changed every 30 days. High efficiency filters should be cleaned or changed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Besides holding dirt, bacteria and other pollutants from the air, the reduced airflow through dirty filters also increase energy use by causing the air conditioning system work harder.

• Have your ducts cleaned. The duct system can be a storage container for years of accumulated pollutants. Once the ducts have been cleaned, keep the house and filter clean or the ducts will fill back up with dirt and pollutants.

• Have a high efficiency filter installed. One of these filters will remove more pollutants than standard filters, and you don’t have to change or clean the media as often as you do with standard filters.

• Install an ultraviolet light air purifier. This technology destroys germs, bacteria and other pollutants effectively.

• Control humidity. Keep humidity at a level that is comfortable, but not so high that mold and mildew can grow.

ACCA membership is your heating and air conditioning contractor’s symbol of quality. For even greater confidence, ask if your contractor employs technicians who are NATE certified in the services you need. For more information, visit www.accaupstateny.org.

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For further information, contact:

Duane Pancoast, APR

The Pancoast Concern, Ltd.

27 Maple Avenue

Victor, NY 14564

Tel: 585.924.4570

Fax: 585.924.2929

E-Mail: duane@thepancoastconcern.com