Did you know that the Washington, DC, area has some of the worst ozone pollution in the country. However, it has gotten better over the last 15 years. Our area ranked 8th in the top 25 most ozone-polluted cities recently. This is the air we’re breathing, people!

In addition to pollutants in the air from the world we live in, allergens are everywhere as well! Spring and Fall can be the worst times due to the pollen in the air. Ragweed, mold, dust, etc. They’re all attacking all the time!

Here are some tips on how to keep your ducts in a row (See what we did there!):

1. Unobstructed Air Vents

It’s always best to keep your air vents uncovered and unobstructed. If the vents are blocked at all, the air cannot circulate to heat or cool the entire room. In addition to the vents, you’ll want to make sure the returns aren’t blocked as well. When dusting a room, dust over your vents and returns to do your best at keeping any surface dirt out of the way. Opening these and vacuuming them out is a good way to keep as much dust out as possible also.

2. Air Filters

One of the most important things you can do to protect the air quality in your home is to ensure your air filters are clean! Changing your filters is best every 6-12 months. Have pets? Then you should change your filters approximately every 90 days or with the changing of each season. Checking them monthly is recommended as well to check for dust and dirt buildup. If you do see a substantial amount of dirt, you may want to replace it sooner than the recommended time frame.

3. Recent Renovations?

If you have ever been around drywall, then you know two things about it: the mud seems to take forever to dry and… DUST. If you have done recent renovations in your home, we recommend having your ducts cleaned. The amount of dust in the air when doing any renovations to a room involving drywall is crazy! At the very least, you’ll want to be sure to change your filters once the renovations are complete.

4. Regular HVAC Maintenance

This is one of the most important things that you could possibly do to keep your ducts clean, not to mention your system running at peak speed. We recommend having a technician come out before the two harshest seasons your system will face – Summer and Winter. Our technicians perform 28-point heating and cooling inspections to ensure your system is in the best shape it can be!

Your comfort, health, and well-being are part of our priorities in addition to your home’s. We want to be sure our customers are feeling their best all year round. Whether you decide to try it yourself or not, F.H. Furr will be ready to help with any indoor air quality needs that may arise at your home!