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How to Get Relief from Dust Allergies

If you’re allergic to dust and dust mites, you’re not alone.

Today, in fact, one in twenty million Americans suffer to some degree from dust-induced coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, and a stuffy nose. Severe reactions to dust can even lead to asthma.

One of the most effective ways to gain relief and help prevent dust allergies is with a whole-house air filter.

At Absolute Air, one of our indoor air quality specialists can install an air filtration system inside your ductwork. That way, it works in tandem with your heating and cooling systems to clean the air throughout your home, and not just in isolated spaces.    Equipped with a HEPA filter, the system will trap and contain more than 99% of airborne pollutants that otherwise would pass through your air ducts untouched on their way to your living spaces and, eventually, into your air passages.

While it’s at work, your whole-house air purifier can rid your indoor air of much more than dust and dust mites. Here’s what else it will trap:

  • Pet dander
  • Smoking by-products
  • Cleaning by-products
  • Formaldehyde from new carpeting
  • Pollen
  • Pesticides
  • And more

Unlike the filter located inside your furnace or AC system which requires frequent cleaning or replacing, the filter inside your whole-house air purifier needs to be cleaned only once every six months.

Still, as effective as an air filtration system can be, there’s more you can do to protect yourself from dust and dust allergies, including the following:

  • Use a vacuum cleaner with its own HEPA filter; other models blow as much dust around as they catch
  • Dust your air vents and registers routinely
  • Have your ducts thoroughly cleaned at least every 4 years
  • Replace your pillows with those made from polyester fibers
  • Cover your mattress and box-spring with airtight plastic covers
  • Wash your throw rugs in hot water
  • Replace your drapes with washable shades or slatted blinds
  • Use a de-humidifier (whole-house or room size) to remove moisture from the air

For more information about a whole-house air filtration system from Absolute Air – or, to schedule an in-home air quality consultation and new system proposal – contact us today.

The Negative Health Effects of New Carpet Odors

“New” can be a wonderful scent. A new car with leather interior, a fresh coat of paint, new wood furniture – there’s nothing quite like it.

Then again, some household odors, however new they might be, aren’t nearly as inviting. Take new carpet and carpet padding, for example. That familiar smell can last for weeks or months after installation, and usually is caused by the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and other air pollutants that are used in the manufacturing process.

That familiar smell can last for weeks or months after installation, and usually is caused by the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and other air pollutants that are used in the manufacturing process.

Carpet odors are also known as “off gassing” which can trigger asthma and other allergic reactions. That’s from the fire-retardant neurotoxins used in the manufacture of some carpet products, the likes of which can cause fatigue, skin rashes or breathing problems in addition to asthma.
What protection do you, as a consumer have? First and foremost, do your research and always read the labels before making your purchase. Since 1993, for example, the carpet industry has required manufacturers to label carpets with a health advisory warning that reads as follows: “Some people experience allergic or flu-like symptoms, headaches, or respiratory problems, which are associated with the installation, cleaning or removal of carpeting.”

Here’s what else you can do to minimize or eliminate any health risks from new carpeting:

• Ask the installer to air out the new carpet for a day or two before installation.

• Leave windows open and a fan going for a few days, too.

• Make sure the installer seals seams with a non-toxic adhesive. Glue is another potential source of indoor air pollution.

• Vacuum frequently and deep clean annually to avoid triggering other allergic reactions.

At Absolute Air, we are indoor air quality specialists who can help you maintain clean and healthy living environment all year long. Contact us today to learn about our whole-house air filtration solutions or to schedule a free in-home consultation and proposal for air conditioning repair Forney TX.

Clean Floors Lead to Clean Indoor Air

If you struggle with allergies or asthma, there’s a good chance you have an indoor air quality issue on your hands.  While that’s not great news, it’s a problem that you can do a great deal on your own to correct.

Take your floors, for example.  By cleaning them often enough and in the right ways, you can reduce the amount of airborne pollutants confronting you and other family members.  Here’s how:

  • Chemicals and allergens can get trapped and remain attached to household dust for literally decades.  By cleaning your floors regularly with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter, you can cut way back on existing concentrations of lead, brominated fire-retardant chemicals (PBDEs), as well as allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites.  The HEPA filter prevents the contaminants from getting blown back into your living spaces.  While you’re vacuuming, don’t forget to include walls, carpet edges, and upholstered furniture – anywhere, in fact, where dust can accumulate. For best results, vacuum two or more times each week and clean your filter regularly.
  • Mop. Mopping picks up the dust that vacuuming leaves behind. You can skip the soaps and cleaners and just use plain water to capture any lingering dust or allergens. Microfiber mops (and dust cloths) typically capture more dust and dirt than traditional fibers and don’t require any cleaning solutions to get the job done.
  • Keep pollutants out. Put a large floor mat inside and outside every exit/entrance door.  People track in all sorts of chemicals via the dirt on their shoes. A door mat reduces the amount of dirt, pesticides, and other pollutants that follow you home. It’s also a good idea to take your shoes off upon entering your home, and don’t be shy about asking guests to do the same.  And, of course, you’ll want to clean your exit and entry door mats often so they continue to remove rather than add to incoming allergens.

Here at Absolute Air, we can help in your fight against indoor air pollution, and in a growing number of ways.  Contact us today to learn more or schedule a free in-home consultation and proposal for .

How to Increase Indoor Humidity During the Winter Months

If your furnace is robbing your home of much needed the moisture during the winter, it’s likely you and other family members are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms of dry house syndrome:

  • Frequent bloody noses
  • Dry skin
  • Dry throat
  • Itchy, watery eyes
  • Static electrical shock
  • Frizzy, unmanageable hair
  • A worsening of allergy and asthma problems

You know what else overly dry air can do?  It can shrink your wooden floors, doors, and furniture, potentially causing them to crack or warp. The same goes for musical instruments. Dry air also can cause electronic equipment to fail from the same static electricity that can easily prompt one too many “ouch” moments.

The Perfect Cure for Dry Indoor Air

While there are numerous self-help remedies available to moisturize your air, none are as effective as a whole-house humidifier from Absolute Air – one that will provide just the right amount of relative humidity throughout your home, working in tandem with your furnace to create ideal levels of comfort.

Besides putting a stop to bloody noses, dry skin and hair, and all the rest, a whole-house humidifier will help decrease your home heating costs by about 4%.  That’s because, with added moisture in the air, you’ll feel perfectly comfortable at lower thermostat settings.  It’s the same principle that makes you feel warmer outdoors when humidity levels are high.

Plus, we can integrate humidifier control with your programmable thermostat.

Ready to put an end to the bone-dry air you’ve grown to know and loathe?  Contact Absolute Air today request a free in-home quote on a new whole-house humidifier.

It’s just one more way we can enhance your family’s year-round indoor comfort.

The Benefits of a Whole-House Air Cleaner

blogAccording to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.  That’s especially true in newer homes with tighter insulation for improved heating and cooling efficiency.

And yet new, ancient, or anything in between, there are myriad contaminants that get trapped indoors and, in varying degrees, impact the quality of the air you breathe every day.  Here are just a few examples:

  • Pollen
  • Pet dander
  • Mold spores
  • Bacteria
  • Smoking by-products
  • Cleaning by-products
  • Dust
  • Dust mites

One place they like to hide out is inside your air ducts.  Then, when your furnace or AC fan turns on, these lightweight particles get blown through the air and into your lungs.  They also settle on furniture, beds, flooring, and anywhere else that will have them.  Which is pretty much anywhere and everywhere.

So how can you get rid of enough of these indoor pollutants to start breathing a little easier?  Easy:  just contact Absolute Air for more information about a whole-house air cleaner.  Once we determine that your family really can benefit from one, we’ll install it right inside your air ducts to pick up where your furnace and AC media filters leave off.

When particles enter the air cleaner, they’re trapped and killed by its electrostatic charge.
Electronic air cleaners are super easy to maintain, too.  Every six months to a year, just clean the filter and wipe down the ionic coils.  The whole process takes about 20 minutes.

Are whole-house models better than portable air cleaners?  Absolutely!  Anytime your home heating or cooling system is turned on, your whole-house electronic air cleaner is doing its job.  By contrast, portable units cover only one room at a time and must be turned on and off manually.

Whole-house air cleaners also help keep your heating and cooling system equipment free of dirt, dust, and other contaminants that can reduce its effectiveness and bring about more frequent repairs.

So if problems with allergies or asthma are making life at home not what it could be, contact Absolute Air so we can help remove what’s ailing you – literally.  Absolute Air, your local indoor air quality specialists.

How Air Conditioning Can Help Improve Your Health.

Did you know that Texas cities rank among the worst in the nation for outdoor air pollution?  In 2015, the American Lung Association ranked DFW #7 on the list of highest ozone levels, with Houston right nearby at #6.  Ozone, for purposes of this report, is defined as smog and other air polluting particles.

No wonder why people with asthma and other respiratory ailments are required to spend so much time indoors during the cooling season.  And why more and more are installing whole-house air filtration systems, especially when you consider that indoor air, on average, is twice as polluted as outdoor air across the nation.

blogOn the brighter side of that same coin, a well-maintained air conditioning system and a companion whole-house air filter can provide more than relief. That combination can actually rid your home of the very pollutants that have caused or continue to aggravate whatever breathing problems you might have.

And yet that’s just one of the health benefits associated with air conditioning. Here are several others:

  • Reduced Stress – Excessively hot indoor temperatures also have a way of causing your blood pressure and stress levels to rise, and there’s no relaxation in that.
  • Helps Prevent Illness – With increased stress, your body’s immune system weakens over time, and that makes you more vulnerable to illness and infection.
  • Helps Fight Depression – Heat often leads to lethargy, boredom and loss of interest; these symptoms are closely related to depression.
  • You’ll Sleep Better – Sleep is a crucial part of our lives and trying to get any sleep when it’s warm and humid is next to impossible.

Of course, the key to enjoying the full measure of these several benefits is keeping your AC system in the best working condition possible.  And the best way to accomplish that goal is with annual preventative maintenance.  So if it’s been a year or longer since your system was last cleaned and inspected, contact Absolute Air to schedule service.  That way, you can more fully experience all the benefits of whole-house air conditioning.

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Absolute Air has been a leading provider of Air Conditioning & Heating Services in Kaufman County since 2009.

Absolute Air Air Conditioning and Heating, Air Conditioning Contractor, Kaufman, TX
3443 E. HWY 175, KAUFMAN, TX 75142
(972) 932-5373
INFO@ABSOLUTEAIR.NET

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