Indoor air quality is hugely important in any home, but if you or someone you live with has asthma, air quality is essential to living comfortably. Indeed, factors such as excess dust and contaminants as well as low humidity levels can exasperate breathing problems and make life miserable for anyone with breathing issues. Follow these four tips to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks in the home.
Identify Asthma Triggers
The first thing you should do is identify the asthma triggers in your home. Then, you can work to remove them. A few common asthma triggers include the following:
- Dust and dust mites.
- Pet dander.
- Pollen, grass, and other outdoor allergens.
- Irritants like cigarette smoke.
As an example, it's important to vacuum and sweep frequently enough to manage dust. You should also be mindful of dust bunnies. The name is cute, but these clods can harbor a load of contaminants that can trigger asthma symptoms. Regular household cleaning, especially of sheets, pillow covers, and comforters, can help manage dust and other problematic contaminants.
Replace Your HVAC Filters More Often
Swapping in new HVAC filters is an essential maintenance task that you can perform on your own. The filters are cheap, and it's easy to pop out the old one and slip a new filter in.
There's a general rule that you need to replace the filter every 90 days for an average family home. Some people only swap out the air filters once or twice a year, but that only works for single occupants who also happen to have no asthma or allergy problems and don't have any pets. If you have a dog or cat, replace the filters every other month. If you have more than one pet or someone in the home has asthma or allergies, put in new filters approximately once per month.
Perform Routine HVAC Maintenance
In addition to replacing the HVAC filters, cleaning out the vents on a regular basis should be part of your routine DIY maintenance. Vents can be cleaned and vacuumed, for example. More thorough cleaning, though, should be left to a professional. An HVAC company can service your air conditioner to give it a comprehensive cleaning and check that it's running as efficiently as possible.
Use a Humidifier
Air quality doesn't just have to do with the materials you're breathing in. The humidity of the air is also important, especially for asthma sufferers. High humidity — an HVAC problem that is common during the summer, particularly in warm climates — can lead to things like fatigue and dehydration. Low humidity, which is often described and felt as dryness in the air, is a huge problem for your nose, skin, and respiratory system. Portable and whole-home humidifiers are available to help you maintain your humidity levels.
Air quality is a big deal for asthma sufferers. Watch for and manage common allergens and triggers, stay on top of routine maintenance, and use a humidifier to manage the moisture levels in your home. Everyone will be much more comfortable at home, and your lungs will thank you.
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