Combat Seasonal Allergies Tips

128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, a BBB A+ rated company with over 700 reviews online that has been servicing Eastern Massachusetts for 25 years, provides homeowners with tips and solutions to improve indoor air quality and relieve allergy symptoms this spring season.

Nearly one in five people in the U.S. have allergy or asthma symptoms, which makes spring an extremely difficult season and indoor air quality more important than ever. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), our indoor environment is two to five times more toxic than our outdoor environment, and in some cases, the air measurements indoors have been found to be 100 times more polluted.

“Naturally, we open our windows to allow fresh air once the spring comes. For allergy sufferers, springtime can be a challenge,” says David Williams, President of 128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric. “Unfortunately, once you open the windows you’ve potentially introduced pollen and other pollutants into your home.”

The experts at 128 Plumbing Heating, Cooling & Electric offer homeowners these tips to improve indoor air quality and fight off spring allergies:

•For those with allergies, consider an air-purifying option – Whether it’s a media filter or a whole-home filtration system, there are ways to filter, clean and purify the air in your home. Our professional technicians have options in stock to scrub the air in your home helping your family breathe happier and healthier.

•Use your air conditioner – Cooling systems actually help reduce the pollen count inside the home. Before the temperature and pollen count starts to rise, have your air conditioning unit checked by a licensed professional. Yearly maintenance is the best way to ensure a long, cool summer and bring peace of mind.

•Clean weekly – One way to limit the allergens that enter a home is to clean the home’s hard surfaces (tables, counters, shelves, floors) with a damp cloth weekly. Using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter will also help improve the home’s air quality.

•Buy indoor plants to freshen the air – Certain plants can filter out common violate organic compounds that can cause adverse health effects. In the late 1980s, NASA conducted a study with the Associated Contractors of America to determine which indoor plants were the most effective at improving indoor air quality. Some of the air-cleaning plants include Aloe plants, Spider plants, Gerber daisies, Chrysanthemums, Ficus, Azaleas and English Ivy.

•Control home temperature – keep your home’s temperature around 70 degrees. Overly warm houses tend to attract dust mites and mold.

•Inspect and replace air filters – Changing air filters regularly is a quick way to contribute to improving your indoor air quality. The professionals at 128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric suggest changing your filters once a month to keep air flowing well and limit allergens.

“Your heating and cooling systems are the most important source of indoor air quality control,” Williams says. “A well-maintained system is your first line of defense against allergies and will work more efficiently at keeping your home’s air quality all throughout the allergy season.”