Plan Ahead To Keep Your Home Comfortable!

As we begin to emerge from winter, most of us will be going outdoors more often and coming in contact with pollen, especially as we roll into spring. While pollen can be a big enough allergy nuisance outdoors, tracking it inside can be a real pain.

To help keep your home free of pollen no matter the season, follow these tips from Gordon’s Heating & Air.

Contact us today to learn more about what we can do to increase your indoor air quality.

Stop Tracking Pollen In

The biggest opportunity for pollen to gain access to our homes is by attaching itself to the people (and pets) who live there. Pollen has a sticky quality by nature to help it cling and spread to pollinate plants in a wide area. However, that also means that it can stick to hair, clothing, shoes, skin, and pet fur and paws. While a mudroom or entryway that’s separated from the rest of the home is a great place to shake off the pollen, garages, porches, and patios can also provide an ideal spot to wipe down, shake off clothes, and comb through hair and pets’ fur. Washing your hands and face, especially eyebrows, once your inside can also help limit the spread of pollen.

Be Aware Of The Pollen Count

Just like you can look up the weather forecast for the day, you can also see what the pollen forecast is. Knowing if the air is expected to be clear or replete with pollen can help you take advantage of days when the pollen count will be low. It’s also important to know the times of day that pollen is more likely to be hanging about. Typically, pollen count is highest during the morning and at night. Knowing this can help you plan outdoor activities to limit your exposure to pollen, which increases the likelihood that it will end up hitchhiking home with you. Pollen counts also go up on dry, warm, and windy days.

Seal The House Up

Another big source of pollen getting indoors is when we leave windows and doors open. While the fresh air may be pleasant, pollen is sneaking in as well. And though screens on windows and doors can help limit the amount of pollen that can get in, it still isn’t foolproof. However, keeping windows and doors shut may not be enough either. Be sure to check the weatherstripping to close off even the tiniest openings that pollen can slip through. It’s also essential to have regular HVAC maintenance to update air duct sealing, which will prevent the AC from pulling air from unsealed places such as the attic.

Check Your Air Filters

Homes without pets should expect to change their AC filters every 90 days, while homes with one pet should do it every 60 days. Families with multiple pets should check their filters regularly and change them anywhere between every 20 and 45 days. Clean air filters with the correct MERV rating for the system will help extract wayward pollen from your home, helping you to breathe easier. If you’re unsure how to change your filter or don’t know what MERV rating is correct, our professional HVAC technicians can help during an AC maintenance visit.