Pets are an important part of our lives. They not only provide comfort and joy to our daily lives, in many cases, they offer their services to us as well. The benefits of owning a pet increase all the time.
If you’ve brought a pet into your family dynamics, the rewards can be endless. But for some family members, pets can lead to allergic reactions.
Pet dander comes from tiny flakes of skin and hair that are shedded into the environment on a regular basis. They become airborne and travel throughout your home via your ventilation system every time your heating or cooling system turns on or off.
Many people feel the impacts when pet dander is in the air. If your immune system isn’t able to combat the viruses and bacteria that can come from living with pets, it can cause a wide variety of symptoms that never seem to go away.
If you have pets, pet dander circulates throughout your ventilation system all the time. You can’t avoid it. But you can reduce the impact.
First, minimize the amount of time your pet spends in the bedroom. Don’t allow them to sleep with you, especially if you are prone to allergic reactions. The more time a pet spends in your bedroom, the more pet dander can accumulate there, the more reactions you will have. Keep the bedroom door closed especially during the day, allowing your pet to spend more time in other rooms.
Be conscious of the flooring you install throughout your home. If you have carpet, select low pile. It will be easier to vacuum and keep clean, thus reducing the impact of pet dander sticking to the fibers. Clean it often to pick up skin particles that remain deep within the carpet.
Be sure your ducts are properly sealed. If they are unsealed and have leaks within the ventilation system, it can allow pet dander and dust to build up in your ductwork, which will blow through your air vents and into your living space every time your HVAC system turns on. Use a HEPA filter when vacuuming to remove allergen particles. To further improve indoor air quality, be sure to choose the right ventilation system for your home.
For a home with pets, routine maintenance is key. Change filters regularly to avoid clogged filters when can overwork your HVAC system. Be sure to have your ductwork cleaned regularly to ensure harmful allergens are removed and aren’t further introduced into your air supply. For professional duct cleaning services, contact the experts at R.S. Andrews.