Fall Allergies: Good Filtration Can Help You Get the Upper Hand

Fall Allergies: Good Filtration Can Help You Get the Upper Hand

Are you in Tulsa and suffering with fall allergies? It isn’t your imagination! Tulsa was recently rated tenth in the lists of worst cities for allergy sufferers. The climate is perfect for the allergy triggers that make so many people miserable.

Here is a list of allergens causing the worst reactions in the area:

• Weeds are a very common allergy trigger. Most people with spring allergies react to ragweed. Ragweed’s pollen is released from August until September or even October. Other troublesome local weeds include mugwort, nettle and sorrel.

• Allergy sufferers are likely to strongly react to the large amounts of sugar berry and hackberry tree pollen released in the autumn.

• Grasses are a very common allergen in Oklahoma. Not only are the grasses on lawns problematic, other plants related to grass cause allergic reactions. Many people also react to pollen from edible grasses like corn.

• As the fall weather becomes cool and damp, mold can grow rapidly in wet leaves or wet places in your home.

• Closing windows and turning on the heat stir up dust and dust mites indoors.

There are several things that you can do in order to protect yourself from fall allergies:

• Check the pollen counts at pollen.com to know when it’s better off to stay indoors with closed doors and windows.

• Your furnace should be fully serviced in the fall complete with cleaned ductwork and changed air filters. An indoor air cleaner system with HEPA filters will help to remove mold, pollen and other allergens from the air.

If you are suffering with fall allergies, please call us at Air Assurance. We have been helping customers to breathe more easily in the Broken Arrow and Tulsa metropolitan areas since 1985.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

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). 

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Lots of Air Cleaners to Choose From: Let These Factors Guide You

Lots of Air Cleaners to Choose From: Let These Factors Guide You

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks. Your ventilation system is typically used to introduce clean outside air into your home. However, when there are too many contaminants outdoors or the weather limits the effectiveness of your ventilation system, an air cleaner can help rid these pollutants from your home.Air cleaners, or air purifiers, are either built into your heating and air conditioning system, or are used as a portable device that treats an area or a room rather than your entire home. There are many machines available on the market, all of which tout being the best, so it's important to know what to look out for before making a purchase.Things to Look Out for in Air Cleaners

• HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters: Trap tiny airborne particles such as dust and pollen, and are considered the most effective filter available. They are made from fibers that are randomly arranged and employ a three-step process to do the job.

• CADR (clean air delivery rate): Using a numerical value, the CADR indicates how much air can be filtered and delivered from a portable machine, and the maximum amount of space it can treat. It also reveals how quickly it can get rid of pollen, dust and smoke. A higher number means it operates faster, but that number does not necessarily tell you how thoroughly it works.

• "Asthma and allergy friendly": Determines if a machine really works to lower the amount of allergens in the air rather than just redistribute them. This Asthma and Allergy Foundation certification is relatively new, and only a few air cleaners have been deemed worthy of the label thus far.

Please note: Some machines labeled as air purifiers produce ozone, a pleasant odor that's released into your air. Be aware that ozone is considered a harmful lung irritant.

Our team of expert contractors at Air Assurance have been serving the Greater Tulsa metropolitan area since 1985. Contact or visit us online for more trustworthy tips on air cleaners, and other related topics.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

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). 

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UV Lights May Be Just the Solution for Your Indoor Air Quality Issues

AirAssurance 9.26.13

The health of you and anyone else who lives in your household should be of utmost importance. To relieve the possibility of any respiratory problems and keep your air as fresh as possible, the installation of UV lights is a must. Let's take a look at how these systems can clean the air of your Broken Arrow area home.What They DoThe only purpose of UV lights is to eliminate the danger of microorganisms in your air. These include pollutants ranging from bacteria and viruses to mold spores and mildew. These particles can cause a number of respiratory issues once they reach your lungs. For those who suffer from allergies or asthma, even minimal exposure can have a lasting effect.Placement of the LightsOnce exposed to UV lights, microorganisms break down at the molecular level. Installation at the induct coil of your HVAC system, far away from human exposure, is typically recommended over placing them at the site of the evaporator coil. This is because the moisture at the induct coil causes mold and mildew to develop there, so these lights can specifically target this problem area, in addition to the surrounding ductwork. As your system draws air through these ducts, microorganisms in the air are drawn along and can be killed as they flow past the lights.Energy SavingsPast versions of UV light systems have had a drawback: energy use. Previous models were designed to utilize a high-intensity light at maximum power 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This use adds up quickly, and you can see the results on your power bill every month. Newer models, however, utilize variable power settings. As microorganisms approach the lights, the air is analyzed to determine the precise UV strength needed to eliminate the threat, thereby saving you money.For more expert advice with UV lights or any other home comfort issues, be sure to contact the experts at Air Assurance. We've been serving the HVAC needs of the Greater Tulsa Metropolitan area since 1985.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

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). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock