How to Prepare for Fall Allergens

Have you started to experience the annoyance and discomfort associated with fall allergies yet? Areas in northeastern and eastern Oklahoma rank among the top 15 areas in the U.S. where people suffer the most from allergies. Local culprits in the fall include ragweed pollen, the inevitable mold spores, and dust mites.Allergy season in this part of Oklahoma is long lasting, according to the Weather Channel who estimate it lasts from April through November. With such a long season, it’s worth considering what you can do to alleviate them using your HVAC system.Your heating and cooling system handles much of the air in your home and it’s the perfect place to start reducing the impact of fall allergies caused by airborne particulates by:

Upgrading the air filter.

A denser, higher quality air filter will trap more particles that will reduce your allergy symptoms. Look for one whose MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) rating is 8 or higher. You can also go by the manufacturer’s quality descriptions, which normally range from good to best.Upgrade the filter as long as your HVAC system can handle one with a MERV rating between 8 and 12 or qualified as “best.” It’s important to verify the maximum density you can use because installing too thick a filter will slow the air flowing through the air handler, which harms your equipment.

Maintaining the HVAC system.

Ask your HVAC contractor to service your system, which reduces the amount of dust and pollen inside it. They're able to access every part of the system for cleaning and adjusting,

Ductwork inspection.

Have your HVAC pro check the ducts for dust. You may need to have the ducts professionally cleaned to clear accumulations of dust and debris. If you or a previous owner have run the system with dirty air filters, allergens can easily collect inside the ducts. Besides clearing the air, clean ducts deliver air more efficiently and quietly.

For more information about managing fall allergies with your HVAC system, contact Air Assurance, providing HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

What You Need to Know About Carbon Monoxide Safety in Your OK Home

Carbon monoxide safety is a topic on which every Oklahoma home-owner should have knowledge. Learning about carbon monoxide safety can protect your home and keep you and your family safe. Carbon monoxide is almost impossible for a person to detect, as it has no color, taste or odor. It is a silent killer that, when inhaled in large quantities, causes illness and death. Symptoms resemble the flu and exposure at low levels include nausea, vertigo, headaches, and confusion. Because these symptoms mimic other problems, exposure often goes unnoticed until it is too late. When this occurs and exposure to the gas is more extensive, these symptoms are more severe and can lead to death. Young children, people with existing respiratory problems, and people with heart disease are more sensitive to the gas and are in more danger from exposure.Produced by heat-producing reactions, carbon monoxide is a by-product of water heaters, heating systems, and small engines. Keeping up with your scheduled HVAC system maintenance can prevent problems that may cause the release of carbon monoxide into your home. When using a small engine like a generator or power-washer, you should be sure to only run the equipment outdoors. They release the gas directly into the air, putting your home at risk if you run them indoors. You should also be sure to never leave your car engine running in the garage, as this can also create a problem. If you own a fireplace, you should only use it when the smoke vents to the outdoors.Although taking certain actions can prevent the likelihood of carbon monoxide exposure, you should still have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home. Detectors have sensitive sensors that alert you of the gas before you begin to develop symptoms.For all of your heating, cooling, and plumbing needs, you can contact us at Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing. We offer excellent service with convenience to clients in Broken Arrow and surrounding areas.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Credit/Copyright Attribution: “www.3drenderedlogos-com/Shutterstock”