March in Whatcom County means we’re finally starting to see the first signs of spring. Days are getting longer, temperatures are slowly warming up, trees and plants are beginning to wake up, and before long we’ll be opening our windows and spending more time outdoors.
But spring also brings something else: pollen, allergens, dust, and changing indoor air quality.
At Reliance Indoor Air Quality, we spend a lot of time talking about keeping your home at a comfortable temperature, but heating and cooling are only part of creating a comfortable indoor environment.
The quality of the air circulating through your home matters, too.
What’s Been Circulating Through Your Home All Winter?
Think about how your home operates during a typical Whatcom County winter.
Windows and doors stay closed. Your heating system runs regularly. People and pets spend more time indoors. Dust, pet dander, cooking particles, and other airborne contaminants can accumulate inside your home.
Your HVAC system continually circulates air throughout your living spaces, which makes spring a great time to give your system and indoor air quality a little attention.
Start With Your HVAC Filter
One of the simplest things you can do for your HVAC system is also one of the easiest to forget: check the air filter.
A dirty or clogged filter can restrict airflow and make it more difficult for your HVAC system to operate properly. Filters also play an important role in capturing airborne particles before they continue circulating throughout your home.
How frequently a filter should be replaced can depend on your system, filter type, household, pets, and other factors.
If you can’t remember the last time you checked yours, March is a good time to take a look.
Spring Allergies Don’t Always Stay Outside
When trees, grasses, and plants begin producing pollen, those tiny particles have plenty of opportunities to make their way indoors.
Every time you open a door or window, walk inside after spending time outdoors, or let a pet back into the house, outdoor particles can come along for the ride.
That’s why improving indoor air quality isn’t necessarily about keeping your house sealed up. It’s about understanding how air moves through your home and finding the right combination of filtration, ventilation, and HVAC performance for your space.
Your Home Needs Fresh Air, Too
Indoor air quality isn’t only about removing particles.
Proper ventilation is another important piece of creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment.
Homes today can be relatively well sealed for energy efficiency, which is great for keeping conditioned air inside. However, that also means it’s important to consider how fresh outdoor air enters the home and how stale indoor air is removed.
An HVAC professional can help evaluate your home’s ventilation and indoor air quality and discuss potential solutions based on your particular needs.
What Did Winter Tell You About Your HVAC System?
March is also a good time to think back over the past few months.
Did some rooms stay colder than others?
Did your furnace seem to run constantly?
Did you notice unusual noises?
Were your energy bills higher than expected?
Did your home feel stuffy or uncomfortable?
Winter can reveal a lot about the performance of your heating system. Instead of forgetting about those concerns as temperatures warm up, spring is a great time to have them evaluated.
Addressing potential problems now can help you prepare your HVAC system for the seasons ahead.
Make Indoor Air Quality Part of Your Spring Cleaning
When you’re cleaning closets, opening windows, dusting shelves, and tackling the annual spring cleaning list, don’t forget about the system responsible for circulating air throughout your home.
A little HVAC attention now can help you transition out of winter and into the warmer months with greater confidence in your home’s comfort and indoor air quality.
At Reliance Indoor Air Quality, we proudly help homeowners and businesses throughout Lynden, Bellingham, Ferndale, Blaine, and Whatcom County with heating, cooling, and indoor air quality solutions.
Want to learn more about your home’s HVAC system or indoor air quality? Call Reliance Indoor Air Quality at (360) 410-9159. We’re happy to help you find solutions that make sense for your home, comfort needs, and budget.