Allergy season is upon us and from what I have been reading, it could be a tough year for allergy sufferers as the pollen and junk in the air is causing issues all over the country. People with allergies (and asthma) look every year for something to mitigate their problems and look toward meds as one way to keep their symptoms under control. What they often neglect are the basics in maintaining a healthy home environment where they spend up to 3/4ths of their day.
Simple solutions include making sure your furnace filter is high quality and will catch/ grab those particles that circulate inside your ducts and often contribute to exacerbating the symptoms versus helping to manage them. I won't get into an explanation of the filters available but can tell you a good filter will cost in the $12 -$15 dollar range and should be changed quarterly.
Next step is assuring proper ventilation which is where a lot of homeowners tend to miss the boat. Proper ventilation begins in the lower level of the home --- basement and crawlspace. This is the area where "stale", contaminated air accumulates and is traditionally the least ventilated area of the home. Stale air, contaminated air is heavier and will settle to the lowest level of the home much like water seeking the lowest point to accumulate.
In addition to the "bad" air collecting in the lower level, there are a host of other issues in the basement and crawlspace that tend to "pop up" in the Spring and summer. Excess moisture and humidity in these areas are breeding grounds for mold spores and other biologicals such as dust mites and spiders and termites.
Often these issues are dealt with by firing up the old dehumidifier but if you've spent time on this Blog, you'll know they're expensive to operate, inefficient, require routine maintenance, work in a small geography, and DO NOT circulate air.
Proper ventilation can be achieved with the system available on the Wave site. It is unique in that it provides the recommended air exchanges in the home and balances the air in both the upper and lower levels of the home. It is easily installed, requires only a standard 110 outlet and can be regulated to achieve the desired humidity level in the lower level. The system works 24/7 continually circulating the air precluding the "bad" air from accumulating. Plus it requires NO maintenance at all.
When it comes to your health and the health of your family, especially if you have allergies or asthma, managing the air quality in your home is critical and it starts with proper ventilation.
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