A staggering 90% of our lives are spent indoors, and while pets bring a remarkable amount of joy into the family home, they also bring in a lot of allergens that can seriously detriment indoor air quality. The Environmental Protection agency has warned of health risks associated with poor indoor air quality; with 37-47% of US homes now including a dog and 30-37% including a cat, those warnings should not be taken lightly.

Lets take a look at how to keep the air at home safe without ousting everyone’s favorite family member.

Where Do Pet Allergens Come From?

So, what exactly is it that pets bring in that harms air quality? As every dog or cat owner knows, pets can shed a lot of fur and while this can be annoying and clog your air filters (more on that in a bit) it generally doesn’t irritate the respiratory system.

The big problem is pet dander. Dander is a small, sometimes microscopic, skin flake that is regularly shed off of mammals with fur, hair, or feathers. Dander travels through the air on house dust and then into the lungs of the occupants where it can cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Other sources of pet irritants come from their dried saliva that can build up in their fur and get shaken off into the air, or from dust released from their dried feces.

Change Air Filters and Use HEPA filters

Filters are your first and best tool to keep your home’s air fresh and allergen free. However, as your pets shed their fur and dander, air filters become clogged and make your system less efficient. A less efficient system means higher heating bills and lower life expectancy for your system. Regularly replacing air filters can go a long way to improving your home’s air quality and your family’s health and comfort, while also saving you a couple bucks.

Traditional air filters, however, might not be up to the challenge of filtering out pet dander. If you really want to filter out nearly all (99.97%) air pollutants, consider integrating a HEPA filter into your system. Contact your local HVAC experts for more information.

Clean Air Ducts

Having pristine air filters doesn’t do much if your air ducts don’t also receive regular attention. Over time, air ducts can collect dust, bacteria and viruses (it is an ideal breeding ground for them), mold, and other nasties. If your ducts aren’t regularly cleaned, every time your air kicks on, pieces of whatever is stuck up there get blasted back into your home. Make sure to have your ducts serviced regularly!

Regular Maintenance

Lastly, having a regular bath schedule for your pet goes a long way in reducing what they would otherwise release into your air. Vacuuming, dusting, and keeping pets off of furniture, carpets, and bed helps prevent dander from building up in fabrics where it will slowly find its way into the air.

This week in Allentown, temperatures will make it to the high 50s. Spring is right around the corner! Unfortunately, so is allergy season. These tips for helping to keep your air clean while co-existing with your furry companion will also help in the fight against spring allergies. Change your filters and contact MBI for your regular maintenance and duct cleaning at: 610.821.9555

Often, friends and family give valuable advice that we pass on to others. Then sometimes, well-meaning advice is misinformed, and if not confirmed for validity, can perpetuate myths for years to come. It happens in every industry – nutrition, finance, education…. even HVAC.

Let’s take a look at some well-circulated heating and cooling myths and see if we can save you some time and money and maybe just stop these misunderstandings in their tracks.

Myth #1 Energy Efficient Homes Are Out of My Price Range

If you in the market for a new place, don’t assume you can’t afford an energy efficient property.

The truth is, research has demonstrated very little, if any, relationship between purchase price and whether or not a home is energy efficient. Some cases have even suggested the addition of smaller energy efficient systems can reduce a home’s principle cost. When it comes to our bitter cold winters, that energy efficient home might just save you so serious cash. 

Myth #2 Closing Vents of Unoccupied Rooms Will Save Me $$$

Logically, it seems like closing off part of a system would decrease its usage, and subsequently, its cost. Unfortunately, this widely spread myth is untrue. Closing vents in unused areas does not save money. Long term, just the opposite is true. The attempt will damage the system’s balance and can result in additional problems like leakage.

Myth #3 Air Filters Need To Be Changed About Once a Year

If you want to inhale dust and dirt then this one is no myth. However, if you prefer you respiratory system intruder free, then you need to change your air filter every few months. On the financial end, unclean filters require your system to work harder, landing you with an expensive energy bill.

Myth #4 The Location of My Thermostat is Irrelevant to its Effectiveness

Make sure your thermostat isn’t located in direct sunlight or any location that is frequently extremely hot or cold. The thermostat reads your home’s temperature. Incorrect data because of a beaming sun or low-temp room can send your HVAC system into a mode of unnecessary compensation. This will inevitably spike your energy costs and could get fairly problematic when it comes to reaching the right inside temperature.

Myth #5 Setting My Thermostat to the Lowest or Highest it Can Go Will Help Cool/Heat My Home Faster

Don’t harm your cooling system by enacting extreme modes and temperatures in an attempt to make a difference. If your home isn’t cooling/heating, it means there’s something wrong with the system. Setting it at its most intense work speed won’t do anything but put your system in danger and cost you a fortune next billing cycle. This may be tempting during a harsh winter or humid summer day, but it’s not worth it. Damaging your system during prime seasons could leave you without a working one for several days before many repair companies might be able to send someone out.