As the temperatures rise and flowers begin to bloom, many of us feel the need to refresh and renew our homes. You may feel inspired to scrub your kitchen floors, organize your closet, take on a new DIY home project, or all of the above! If you’re feeling particularly motivated this spring, you’re not alone.
While you’re spring cleaning this year, Alabama Power Smart Financing encourages you to spread the love to your air ducts and HVAC system. With proper spring cleaning, you can reduce the amount of allergens, dust, dander, and other contaminants circulating throughout your home. Learn everything you need to know about spring cleaning—HVAC & air duct edition—from the experts at Alabama Power.
Change Air Filters
If you’re not already on a regular cadence to clean and change your air filters, now is the ideal time to start. If you don’t change your air filters, they can become too dirty and unable to filter air properly. Any dust, pet dander, and other debris usually stopped by your air filter can circulate through your home, causing many problems like itchy eyes, dry skin, and other allergy-like symptoms.
We recommend cleaning your air filter every three weeks and replacing it every three months. You may need to clean and replace more frequently if you have pets or anyone with asthma in your household.
Install UV Lights
UV lights are the ultimate addition to a clean, fresh home. UV lights can be installed in your furnace, supply vents, or HVAC system. With powerful beams of light, the UV rays kill the nucleic acids in bacteria, diminishing their ability to spread and replicate.
Without this technology, you and your family may experience respiratory symptoms like chest congestion and runny nose. Fortunately, these innovative and effective lights destroy any bacteria, viruses, mold, and other airborne pathogens before they circulate throughout your home. If you’d like to learn more about installing UV lights, find your local provider vetted by our trusted experts.
Control the Humidity
Managing your home’s humidity levels is an easy way to boost indoor air quality. If the air is too moist, mold growth and wood rot may be your new unwanted house guests. On the other hand, if your air is too dry, you and your family may experience nosebleeds, dry eyes, and other pesky symptoms.
Luckily, keeping your home’s humidity in check is easy with a humidifier and/or dehumidifier. We recommend maintaining levels between 30 and 50 percent, but you can adjust the level as needed for your home. You can check your humidity levels with a hygrometer, or an HVAC expert can provide a recommendation best suited for your needs.
Consider an Air Purifier
Air purifiers can remove 99% of harmful contaminants from your home’s air. An air purifier can benefit every home, but we especially recommend one if anyone in your family has a weakened immune system. There are numerous air purifiers, including whole-home and portable air purification systems.
We recommend an air purifier with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which means it is government-certified to remove pollutants as little as 0.3 microns in size. If you aren’t sure which air purifying device suits your home, call your local Alabama Power Smart Financing provider to learn more.
Schedule Air Duct Cleaning
Like your HVAC air filters, you can’t breathe fresh air if your system isn’t clean. We recommend scheduling air duct cleaning with a local provider every two to three years to deep clean your air ducts. Without proper duct cleaning, allergens, dust, and debris can circulate freely throughout your home.
Beyond creating a dusty living space, this can cause a worsening of allergy symptoms and higher-than-usual energy bills. The buildup can cause your system to work harder and, in turn, drive up your costs. Regular air duct cleaning offers cleaner, fresher air all spring and summer!
Feel Your Best This Spring with Alabama Power
With these tips, you can get your spring cleaning fix and create a safer, cleaner environment for you and your family. From duct cleaning to air purification to humidity control, there are numerous steps you can take to make your home a healthier and happier place.
If you need financial assistance making any indoor air quality or HVAC upgrades, Alabama Power Smart Financing offers affordable options to make these upgrades hassle-free. To unlock these benefits, schedule service with one of our experts today!
Get Financing for Your HVAC Upgrades with Smart Financing
We understand that HVAC upgrades can be overwhelming, so we offer financing for your heating and cooling spring cleaning projects. With over a thousand service providers statewide to choose from, finding a humidity control professional is easier than ever. To get started, give us a call at 1-888-44-SMART!
