Are We Safe Inside?

Fighting Mold, Grass, and Other Allergies this Summer by Improving Indoor Air Quality

If you’re like many in central Texas, you dread summer in central Texas; not because you begin to melt within 37 seconds of being tormented by the invisible summer heat, but because of another invisible tormenter in central Texas: allergies. Over 40-50 million Americans are affected each year by allergies, resulting in serious health issues such as extended illness, even disability. Nearly 35 million Americans suffer from upper respiratory symptoms, which are allergic reactions to airborne pollen.

If you’re like many central Texans, you dread the summer months, because pollen counts are often higher, leading to allergies, during the summer months. Common allergens in central Texas during the summer include grasses, mold, pig weed, and ragweed. According to Dr. Douglas Barstow and Dr. Jay van Bavel, of Allergy & Asthma Associates, mold counts are high right now in central Texas.

“No problem, I’ll just stay inside,” you say? You may be surprised to know that indoor air can be up to five (5) times as polluted and up to 100 times as dirty as outdoor air (source Congressional Quarterly). Common symptoms to poor indoor air quality include, but are not limited to: headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, lack of concentration, and snoring. More severe allergic reactions include hay fever and asthma. Feeling like there’s nowhere to hide from poor indoor air quality? The solution may be as simple as replacing your air filter.

Air filters exist to trap damaging particles, which, once they enter a home, are circulated reducing indoor air quality. Additionally, these same particles reduce the efficiency of your A/C unit, making it more expensive to cool your home. Install high performance air filters with a micro particles rating of at least 1,500 to ensure the maximum number of harmful particles are trapped by the filter. The more particles a filter can trap, the better its performance.

Finding the right filter is only part of the solution, however. To maintain the efficiency of your A/C system, air filters must be replaced on a regular basis. A clogged return air filter can reduce operating efficiency of A/C systems by more than 10% (source: Reliant Energy). So, filters must be replaced on a regular basis, at least every 90 days, if not sooner.

The GREEN SCREEN, from Air Filtration Management systems, provides an air filter with three layers (a white layer to capture large airborne particles, a green layer with a fine fiber structure and non-drying adhesive, to enhance the dust loading capability, and an antimicrobial agent with a micro particle performance rating that exceeds most other air filters available today. Explore the GREEN SCREEN to restore indoor air quality in your home, and save up to 10% on your electric bills.

You can save an additional 20-40% on utility bills and increase the comfort by making energy efficient upgrades to your home or office. Not only can you save with these home energy saver ideas, but saving energy can also be accomplished by installing energy efficient upgrades such as whole house air sealing, duct sealing, attic insulation, attic ventilation, radiant barrier, wall foam insulation, and spray foam insulation. Schedule a FREE energy performance assessment today.